2011-2012

Curtis Ross, Principal Bridgette Muhammad, Asst. Principal

Antwan Reeves, Asst. Principal

A.W. Watson Elementary School PRE-K and KINDERGARTEN

HANDBOOK

Curtis Ross, Principal cross@claiborne.k12.ms.us

August 7, 2011

Dear Parents, I take pleasuring in welcoming you and your child back to the start of a

wonderful new school year here at A.W. Watson Elementary. All of us are excited about the many learning opportunities that are in store for all of our children, and we invite you to join forces with us as we educate the boys and girls in our care.

The information in this handbook has been prepared to keep you abreast of

the policies and procedures that govern our day-to-day operations. We hope that you will take the time to read this handbook in its entirety so that you will be familiar with our guidelines.

Included in this reference guide are the newly adopted Common Core State

Standards (CCSS). This set of educational standard serves as the curriculum map from which your kindergartener will be instructed this school year. We are fully confident that if our students meet these rigorous standards, they will have better career choices in their lives, and the nation will be more competitive in today’s global economy.

As always, remember that A.W. Watson Elementary School has an open door

policy. We invite you to become actively involved in your child’s educational experience this year. We look forward to working alongside you to make this the most productive school year your child has ever had. Educationally yours, Curtis Ross, Principal

A.W. WATSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 880 ANTHONY STREET ~ PORT GIBSON, MS 39150

TEL: (601) 437-5070 ~ FAX: (601) 437-3044

DISTRICT CONTACTS

OFFICE – SCHOOLS NUMBER(S) NAME / TITLE

Superintendent of Education 601-437-4232 Dr. Annie Kilcrease

Assistant Superintendent,

Federal Programs 601-437-4232 Mr. Donald Reeves

A. W. Watson Elementary

School 601-437-5070

Mr. Curtis Ross, Principal Dr. Bridgette Muhammad and

Mr. Antwan Reeves, Assistant

Principals

Port Gibson Middle School

601-437-4251

Mr. James Holloway, Principal

Dr. Oneida Sibley Butler,

Assistant Principal

Port Gibson High School

601-437-4190

Mr. Marvin Harvey, Principal

Vocational Technical Complex 601-437-3800 Mr. Nathaniel Martin, Jr., Director

Alternative Education 601-437-6881 Dr. Jo Smith, Director

Members of the Board of

Education 601-437-4850

Mrs. Josie McClorine, President Mrs. Addie Harvey, Vice President

Mrs. Janice Gray, Secretary

Mrs. Johnny Brown, Member

Mr. Jimmy Curry, Member

Special Services 601-437-4232 Ms. Debra Knox, Director

Child Find/Case Manager 601-437-4232 Mr. William Kilcrease

School Improvement Officer 601-437-4190 Mr. Delarious Stewart

Curriculum and Instruction

Math 601-437-4232 Ms. Sandra Nash

Student Assessment and Appeals

601-437-4232 Mr. Donald Reeves, Director

Assistant Superintendent of

Operation and Maintenance 601-437-5981 Mr. Earl Taylor

Fixed Assets/ Custodial 601-437-3616 Ms. Shirley Peters, Supervisor

Child Nutrition 601-437-4232 Ms. Lena Bell, Director

Athletic Director/PGH Asst. Principal

601-437-4232 Mr. Lynn Lang

Community Relations/NCLB 601-437-4232 Ms. Angela Hampton, Liaison

Business Manager 601-437-4232 Ms. Johnnie Thompson

Technology Coordinator 601-437-4232 TBD

MSIS Personnel Coordinator 601-437-4232 Mrs. Mary McCay

School Attendance Officer 601-437-5289 Mrs. Hattie Smith

JROTC 601-437-3104 Col. Charles Powell

Sgt. Stanford Jones

PTA/PTSA 601-443-7630 Mrs. Jacqueline Jones

Mississippi Education

Association District Rep 601-437-4251 Mrs. Gloria Liggans, President

A.W. Watson Elementary School Parent Center

601-437-5070 Mrs. Cassandra Wells, Parent

Coordinator

PARENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF HANDBOOK AND

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HAVING READ THE STUDENT HANDBOOK 2011-2012

(Directions: Please sign and have your child return this letter to his/her homeroom teacher.)

This verifies that, as parent of _________________________________student(s) in the Claiborne County Public School District, we have read/been given the opportunity to read The Student Handbook: Code of Conduct. We are aware of the rules, regulations, and information governing students during the regular school day and at all school-sponsored functions. Furthermore, we understand that these services, rules, regulations, codes, conduct, and discipline policies have been approved by the Claiborne County Public Schools Board of Education. As parents, we realize that it is our responsibility to see that our child abides by these rules and regulations while he/she is a student of the Claiborne County Public School District. Parent Signature: __________________________________ Date: Name of Student(s):_________________________________ Date: Mailing Address_______________________________ ______________/_____________________ Home Phone Number Emergency Phone Number Please indicate below whether or not you wish to give your child permission to use the Internet. ___ Yes, my child has permission to use the Internet. ___ No, my child does not have permission to use the Internet. ____________________________________________________________ Parent or Guardian Signature

Student Verification Form Claiborne County Public Schools

2011-2012 TEACHER I have explained the classroom and school rules to the below named student during his/her first week of school as printed in the CODE OF CONDUCT HANDBOOK. This student has been informed that if he/she follows these rules that there are positive consequences and rewards. The student has also been made to understand that if he/she violates any of these rules, procedures, and routines that there are negative consequences with penalties. As the classroom teacher (this includes building-level faculty and staff), I will be fair and consistent in administering these rules, procedures and routines. Signed _______________________________ Date ____________________ (Teacher) STUDENT I understand the Code of Conduct and classroom discipline plan and I will honor it while attending A.W. Watson Elementary School during the ________________________ (School Year) Signed ___________________________________ Date _________________ (Student)

Common Core State Standards -

English Language Arts

Kindergarten

Reading Standards for Literature Key Ideas and Details

1. With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. 2. With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details. 3. With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Craft and Structure 4. Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text. 5. Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems). 6. With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the

story. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

7. With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).

8. (Not applicable to literature) 9. With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar

stories. Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

10. Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding. Reading Standards for Informational Text Key Ideas and Details

1. With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. 2. With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text. 3. With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of

information in a text. Craft and Structure

4. With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text. 5. Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book. 6. Name the author and illustrator of a text and define the role of each in presenting the ideas or information in a

text. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

7. With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).

8. With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text. 9. With prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic

(e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures). Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity

10. Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding. Reading Standards: Foundational Skills Print Concepts

1. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. a. Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page. b. Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters. c. Understand that words are separated by spaces in print. d. Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Phonological Awareness 2. Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

a. Recognize and produce rhyming words. b. Count, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words. c. Blend and segment onsets and rimes of single-syllable spoken words. d. Isolate and pronounce the initial, medial vowel, and final sounds (phonemes) in three-phoneme (consonant-

vowel-consonant, or CVC) words.* (This does not include CVCs ending with /l/, /r/, or /x/.) e. Add or substitute individual sounds (phonemes) in simple, one-syllable words to make new words.

Phonics and Word Recognition 3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

a. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or many of the most frequent sound for each consonant.

b. Associate the long and short sounds with common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels. c. Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does). d. Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying the sounds of the letters that differ.

Fluency 4. Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.

Writing Standards Text Types and Purposes

1. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is . . .).

2. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

3. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.

Production and Distribution of Writing 5. With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to

strengthen writing as needed. 6. With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing,

including in collaboration with peers. Research to Build and Present Knowledge

7. Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).

8. With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Speaking and Listening Standards Comprehension and Collaboration

1. Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. a. Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics

and texts under discussion). b. Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges.

2. Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and requesting clarification if something is not understood.

3. Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

4. Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail. 5. Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail. 6. Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

Language Standards Conventions of Standard English

1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Print many upper- and lowercase letters. b. Use frequently occurring nouns and verbs. c. Form regular plural nouns orally by adding /s/ or /es/ (e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes). d. Understand and use question words (interrogatives) (e.g., who, what, where, when, why, how). e. Use the most frequently occurring prepositions (e.g., to, from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by, with). f. Produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.

2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. a. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I. b. Recognize and name end punctuation. c. Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes). d. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten

reading and content. a. Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them accurately (e.g., knowing duck is a bird and learning

the verb to duck). b. Use the most frequently occurring inflections and affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the

meaning of an unknown word. 5. With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

a. Sort common objects into categories (e.g., shapes, foods) to gain a sense of the concepts the categories represent.

b. Demonstrate understanding of frequently occurring verbs and adjectives by relating them to their opposites (antonyms).

c. Identify real-life connections between words and their use (e.g., note places at school that are colorful). d. Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut,

prance) by acting out the meanings. 6. Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.

Common Core State Standards - Mathematics

Kindergarten Counting and Cardinality Know number names and the count sequence.

1. Count to 100 by ones and by tens. 2. Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1). 3. Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a

count of no objects). Count to tell the number of objects.

4. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality. a. When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only

one number name and each number name with one and only one object. b. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the

same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted. c. Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.

5. Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.

Compare numbers. 6. Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of

objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies. [Include groups with up to ten objects.]

7. Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.

1. Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings [Drawings need not show details, but should show the mathematics in the problem. (This applies wherever drawings are mentioned in the Standards.)], sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

2. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.

3. Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).

4. For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.

5. Fluently add and subtract within 5.

Number and Operations in Base Ten Work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundations for place value.

1. Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each composition or decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 18 = 10 + 8); understand that these numbers are composed of ten ones and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine ones.

Measurement and Data Describe and compare measurable attributes.

1. Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.

2. Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.

Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category. 3. Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by

count. [Limit category counts to be less than or equal to 10.]

Geometry Identify and describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres).

1. Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.

2. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size. 3. Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, “flat”) or three-dimensional (“solid”).

Analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes. 4. Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal

language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and vertices/“corners”) and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length).

5. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.

STUDENTS’ RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All students in the Claiborne County Public School District have certain basic rights and responsibilities as outlined by the Claiborne County Public Schools’ policies in compliance with the Constitution, Constitution of the State of Mississippi, Mississippi State Law, and Children’s Rights. STUDENT’S RIGHTS:

1. Right To A Public Education – Students have a right to a public education and the equal opportunities associated with this which includes school programs and activities.

2. Right to Freedom of Expression – Students have the right to express their opinions verbally or written as long as it does not disturb the learning process.

3. Right to Privacy – Students’ academic and personal records are confidential and can only be inspected by eligible students, parents/guardians, school officials, and other persons or organizations as permitted by law (CCPSD Policy).

4. Right To Due Process – Students have a right to due process and to disciplinary hearings as outlined by district policies (CCPSD Policy).

5. Right To Be Free From Unreasonable Search and Seizure – Students have the right to be free from an unreasonable search and/or seizure, but anything that is school property is subject to search if there is a reasonable suspicion (CCPSD Policy).

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Attend all classes daily and be punctual in attendance. 2. Come to class prepared and have appropriate working materials. 3. Be respectful of all individuals and property. 4. Conduct himself and herself in a safe and responsible manner. 5. Be responsible for his/her work and behavior. 6. Abide by the rules and regulations of the school and each classroom teacher. 7. Choose appropriate dress, be neatly groomed, and abide by school policies and regulations. Disclosure Notice to Parents and Students of Release of Information The Claiborne County Public School District may disclose general or directory information which shall include the student’s name and address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, date of attendance, credits and awards received, the most recent previous school attended by the student, and other similar information. If a parent, guardian or student desires to have any part or all of this information withheld from being released by an outside agency, a written request must be submitted within 10 (ten) days following the receipt of this notice. In compliance with the Privacy Rights of Parents and Students Act, school records will be forwarded upon request to a school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS ENROLLMENT INFORMATION Birth Certificates: All preschool pupils, kindergarten pupils, first-time enrollees for first grade pupils and out-of-state pupils must submit a CERTIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Application for a birth certificate may be made to the Division of Public Health Statistics, State Board of Health in the Felix J. Underwood Building, 2423 North State Street, Room 110. A fee is required for a certified copy. Age Requirements: Children must be four (4) years old on or before September 1 to enter pre-school and five (5) years old on or before September 1 to enter kindergarten and six (6) years old on or before September 1 to register for first grade. Immunization Compliance: Students enrolling in the Claiborne County Public Schools must present a Mississippi Certificate of Compliance regarding vaccinations. Students enrolling for the first time or enrolling by transfer from an out-of-state school must present the certificate at the time of enrollment. Students enrolling by transfer from a school within the State of Mississippi may be tentatively enrolled until the cumulative folder is received. If the certificate is not received with the cumulative folder or if the folder is not received, the parent must obtain and present a certificate. Social Security Numbers: All students are asked to present their social security cards in order to enroll in the Claiborne County Public School District. Verification of Residence: A Verification of Residence policy was passed by the Mississippi State Board of Education on April 20, 1990. This policy requires that all school districts in Mississippi verify the residency of students attending the districts. Effective with the 2009/2010 school year in the Claiborne County Public School District, parents or legal guardians, seeking to enroll students must provide documentation which will verify that each student resides in the school district. Each parent seeking to enroll a student must verify residency by submitting TWO of the following valid items. One of the items presented must be a current utility bill. Each of the items must have a physical address. Post office box addresses will not be accepted.

Filed Homestead Exemption Application

Mortgage documentation or property deed

Apartment or home lease

Utility bills (not more than 30 days old)

Driver’s license

Voter precinct identification

Automobile registration

Affidavit and/or receiving a personal visit by a designated school official Any individual having questions regarding the Verification of Residence policy is urged to call the School Principal at the school your child attends: A. W. Watson Elementary 437-5070, Port Gibson Middle School 437-4251, Port Gibson High School 437-4190. Non-Resident Pupils: A student must attend school in the school district of which his parent/guardian is an actual bona fide resident. A bona fide residence is one where the family actually lives. This means that the family cooks, eats and sleeps in a specific abode during every day of the week; in other words, the family’s primary place of residence. This rule does not prevent parents from commuting to work, and it does not prevent parents from traveling out of state where work requires them to do so, provided they return to the home periodically and consider the home as their legal, permanent residence. The family mail must also be received where the family lives. Change of Student’s Address If at any time during the year a change of address or telephone number is made, the parent or student (if applicable) should immediately report such change in the principal’s office and in the guidance/counselor’s office. Orientation

Adjustment sessions and general orientation to the school setting and academic program will help new students during transition from former schools to become familiar with facilities, teachers, organizations, and procedures. School officials will utilize this process for all new students entering the Claiborne County Public School District.

School Attendance Regular and punctual attendance on the part of all students is necessary for successful accomplishments in school. For some students, one tardy or one absence can be detrimental to good work. Therefore, it is important that parents not only encourage their children to attend school punctually, but make sure that their children are in school. Also, only in unavoidable cases should a student be taken out of school before the close of the school day. Claiborne County Public School District Board of Trustees has adopted the following attendance policy: ►Students should not accumulate more than thirty (30) absences in a yearly course. The cumulative number of absences for a semester course is fifteen (15) days. Students will not receive credit when they exceed the 30 absences.

An absences accompanied by a medical doctor’s statement will be considered “excused.” All other absences will be deemed “unexcused.”

An "unlawful absence" is an absence during a school day by a compulsory-school-age child, which absence is not due to a valid excuse for temporary nonattendance. Days missed from school due to disciplinary suspension (out of school suspension) shall not be considered an "excused" absence under this section.

Make-up work will be allowed only for excused absences. Absences due to school-sponsored activities will be excused by the principal. Students will not be permitted to take part in any school-sponsored extracurricular activities,

competitions, events, or be absent from school on the day of such activity, unless previously excused by the principal. This policy is interpreted to mean that the student must be in attendance the entire day prior to being eligible to participate in school-sponsored events. In addition, students who are habitually unable to attend school or who are tardy to school the day following an extracurricular event, will, for the sake of their health and academic achievement, be dropped from participating in such event(s). The student shall not have more than five (5) absences from any one class or a total of twenty (20) absences from all classes for the purpose of participation in extracurricular activities.

Reporting of Nonattendance for Compulsory School-Age Students If a compulsory school-age child has not been enrolled in a school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the school which such child is eligible to attend or such child has accumulated five (5) unlawful absences during the school year of the public school in which such child is enrolled, the superintendent or designee shall, within two (2) school days or within five (5) calendar days, whichever is less, report such absences to the school attendance officer of the youth court or family court. Withdrawal Information Students who change schools due to a change of address or by legal transfer must first withdraw from the old school. The withdrawing school will give to the student the completed Withdrawal Form to take to the new school. All textbooks and library books must be returned before withdrawal can be completed. Verification for residence of new address must be presented at the time student withdraws from school (Policy). Permanent Records and Family Right The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are: 1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students (18 years or older)should submit to the school principal or office of the Superintendent of Education a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school officials will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the

principal or appropriate official, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school 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 personally 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 official is a person employed by the school 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 school 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 task. 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 school discloses education 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 school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are Family Policy Compliance Office U. S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605. 5. The district has determined that the following information regarding the district’s students is not harmful or an invasion of privacy, and therefore will release this information without first obtaining parental consent. If a parent, guardian, person acting as a student’s parent in absence of a parent or guardian, or the student (if 18 or older), does not want the district to release the information listed below, they must notify the district in writing within ten (10) days of receiving this handbook of the information they do not want released. The following information may be released without obtaining parental consent: Student’s name, parent’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, date and place of birth, grade level, major field of study, enrollment status, participation in officially recognized activities and sports including audiovisual or photographic records of the openly visible activities thereof (e.g., artistic performances, sporting contests, assemblies, service projects, awards ceremonies, etc.), weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, honors and awards received, most recent previous school attended and photograph including photographs of regular school activities that do not disclose specific academic information about the child and/or would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. Please notify the District in writing if information is not to be released.

6.Pursuant to federal law, military recruiters and institutions of higher education may request and receive the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all high school students, unless their parents or guardians notify the school not to release this information. Please notify the District if this information is not to be released. Parent and Community Involvement Policy The Claiborne County Public School District recognizes that a child’s education is the responsibility shared by the school, community, and the family during the educational period the child spends in the learning environment. To help support the goals of the school district to educate all students effectively, the school and parents must work as knowledgeable partners. The Claiborne County School District, in collaboration with parents, shall establish programs and practices that enhance parental involvement and reflect the specific needs of the students and their families. The Claiborne County School District supports the development, implementation, and periodic evaluation of a parental involvement program in each school which will involve parents at all grade levels in a variety of roles. The parental involvement programs will be comprehensive and coordinated in nature. The following components of a successful parental involvement program will include: Prior to September 30th each year, the school will invite parents of eligible children to a public

meeting for the purpose of discussing the programs and activities provided with Title I funds.

Informing parents of their right to consult in the design and implementation of the School’s Title I Program, soliciting their comments regarding the program design and an opportunity to establish and maintain communication among parents, teachers, and administrators.

Claiborne County Schools will select a parent advisory committee and will conduct quarterly

meetings for the purpose of maintaining a close liaison with parents. Claiborne County Schools will periodically invite parents to visit the classrooms and to discuss

their child’s progress with the teacher. Parents will be encouraged to volunteer and visit as often as their schedules permit. Each classroom has a designated Parent Corner to provide an area for parents to sit when they visit their children’s classrooms. This is an effort to encourage parents to visit classrooms whenever it is convenient for the parents.

Parents will be provided access to all students’ assessments and provided explanations on their use and their child’s proficiency levels.

Each spring, but no later than May 26, parents, teachers and administrators will meet with Title I

Coordinator to discuss progress, needs of the students, and possible changes in the program for the following year.

A District Parent/Teacher Support Center will be open to both groups to provide training and assistance to encourage high performance of students.

Parents and teachers will write a Parent, Teacher, and Student Compact that outlines the responsibilities of each party to the Title I goal of meeting higher expectations.

District Town Meetings will be held to inform and discuss school plans, goals, assessments and

parental involvement issues. Each year parents of all incoming ninth grade students will be invited to meet with the Port

Gibson High School Principal, Counselor, and a District Representative to inform parents and ninth grade students of the requirements for graduation from high school. This meeting will be held during the month of August of each school year.

Each year, the parents of all Self-Contained Special Services students whose chronological

age/grade assignment is 7th and 8th grades, will be invited to meet with the Principal, Special Services Director, Case Manager, and District Representative to make parents aware of graduation guidelines for students identified as receiving Individuals with Disabilities Education Act services. This meeting will be held during the month of August of each school year.

Technology in the Classroom

Incorporating technology in the classroom can enrich a student's learning experience. Further, it enhances the teacher's role by moving the emphasis from ideas to support as teachers then can coach and work closely with students in their quest for learning.

Teachers, too, can benefit from technology in the classroom by using it for planning purposes, assessment, communication with students, parents and each other, and as a tool for professional development. To prepare students for success in the information age, technology must become a tool that every student can use effectively. This is why the Claiborne County School District has as its goal that students become proficient in using technologies besides word processing in the construction of products for classes.

Teachers are given the necessary professional development to ensure they can infuse technology into the learning environment in order to ensure students are technology proficient by the end of eighth grade and advance their skills thereafter.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Access to telecommunications will enable students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and instructional websites throughout the world. The leadership of this district believes that there are many benefits for students to access information resources and opportunities for sharing that information. Ultimately, Parents and Guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the Claiborne County Public School District supports and respects each family’s right to decide whether or not to allow their children to have independent access to the Internet during school hours.

Uniform Dress Policy The Claiborne County School District recognizes that the way students dress can affect their behavior. Research has shown that schools with uniform dress codes have fewer discipline problems, higher academic achievement, and students with higher self-esteem. Therefore, the Claiborne County Board of Education has determined that all students in Grades K-12 in attendance in the Claiborne County School District will wear uniforms begun in the 1999-2000 school year and thereafter. Questions regarding implementation of the policy and regulations should be directed to the principal of the school where the student is in attendance. Based on parental input, the description of individual items is provided to parents at the beginning of the school year.

A. W. Watson School, (Pre-K: Solid Purple and Solid Gold Tops with collars and Khaki Bottoms; Grades K-5: Solid Red and Solid Navy Tops with collars; Khaki and Navy Bottoms).

The skort shall be an option available only for students in grades K-5.

The windbreaker has been added as an “outer” garment.

The school district’s logo (optional on the shirt) shall be placed on the left front panel of the shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, or windbreaker, or the logo can be placed on the left collar of a blouse. No other collar shirt can be worn under the uniform shirt. Students choosing to wear t-shirts under uniforms tops are required to wear a plain white t-shirt without a collar.

Any other colored t-shirt is a violation of the school board’s policy. No designer label or design shall be seen on uniform shirt.

The school district has made no effort to limit free enterprise; no vendor has been excluded. However, it has been emphasized to the vendors that the construction of all pieces of the uniform shall be of “uniform” quality, wrinkle free, wash-‘n-wear, permanent press, and doubled-stitched. The short, skirt, skort, and jumper must be “knee length or below.” The overall quality of the material is the primary determiner of price; poorly constructed clothing has a cheaper price tag. Please inform the school of any vendor who sells an item designed to be a part of the uniform which does not meet the description listed in these guidelines, or which does not meet the “uniform” standard. Failure to adhere to proper dress attire (wearing shorts, skirts, or skorts too short or wearing pants sagging below the waistline or wearing pants that are more than one inch larger than the waist size) will result in disciplinary action. Parent or Guardians shall be responsible to ensure that their children adhere to the school district’s Uniform Dress Code. Other Uniform Considerations: 1. Oversize clothing is prohibited. Pants or trousers can be no more than one inch larger than the actual waist size. “Sagging” of pants is prohibited; no under-garment shall be seen nor shall pants hang in folds about the footwear. Meaning the leg hem shall not (drag) be worn below the heel of

the shoe. Mutilation, e.g., purposefully cutting holes, of clothing is prohibited. Shirts must be long enough to tuck in. T-shirts as an outer top are not permitted. 2. Students are prohibited from wearing additional “patches,” pins, or ear rings that may be considered lewd, profane, obscene, suggestive or vulgar; which may harass, threaten, intimidate, or demean other groups; or, which displays illegal merchandise or contraband: Hats and scarves may not be worn in the building. No combs, picks, brushes or curlers are allowed in the hair: Head gear, kerchiefs, stocking caps, head wraps, caps, hats, bandannas, “doo” rags, wash cloths, or any “gang” paraphernalia, is prohibited. The only exceptions to any head gear include a hair net or cap required where long hair poses a health or safety threat near open flames, moving machines or in food preparation classes, or a cap worn as part of religious persuasion, e.g., the yarmulke worn by individuals of the Jewish faith. Earrings shall not be worn on clothing. Medallions and necklaces shall not be worn outside the shirt/top. Large hoop/dangling earring shall not be worn 3. Belts must be worn if the garment has belt loops. Belt buckles shall not display insignias. Students can wear pants, shorts, skirts, or skorts that have an elastic waistband. However, all shorts, skirts, and skorts shall come to the knee. None shall be worn above the knee. NOTE: Failure to adhere to proper dress attire (wearing shorts, skirts or skorts too short or wearing pants sagging below the waistline or wearing pants that are more than one inch larger than the waist size) will be disciplined. 4. Blue jeans, denim or denim-like, sweat pants, overalls, stretch pants, scrub pants, wind suits, cargo pants, baggy, holey, sagging or frayed bottoms, rolled up pants, spandex, biker and nylon pants are not allowed. 5. Footwear – Students are prohibited from wearing footies, house shoes, nylon ballerina shoes,

backless sandals, flip flops, beach shoes, shower shoes, platform shoes, spike heels, birkenstock, clogs, crocs, lighted shoes or heely (skate) shoes. Shoes must be properly tied or fastened. Covered shoes must be worn.

6. Pants shall not have raveled hem: the hem must be free of ravels and have a turned “under” hem.

7. Students enrolled in the Claiborne County School District are not permitted to carry oversized purses or hobo bags of any size. It is the policy of the Claiborne County Board of Education that no purse or other handbags shall not be larger than 8-1/2 x 11. (8.5 x 11 is equal to the size of a sheet of paper.) Book bags are not included in this restriction.

8. Any student desirous of using a book bag to carry his/her supplies and books at Port Gibson Middle School and Port Gibson High School must purchase a clear book bag or see-through mesh book bag.

9. Students in violation of this policy will have the book bag confiscated by the administration. Students will be given a grace period of three weeks from the opening of the new school year to purchase a clear or see-through mesh book bag, meaning that all students who carry book bags must have clear or see-through mesh bags.

10. Boys are not permitted to wear ear rings in their ears. 11. Students are not permitted to wearing emblems on long chains worn around neck with sharp

edges. 12. Students are prohibited wearing of beads in hair. 13. Sunflower seeds are prohibited.

14. Wearing hoodies (The pull-over sweat shirt with the hoods) are prohibited.

15. Winter jackets or coats of any color (without any designs, brands, letters, etc.

16. All outerwear shall be free of all logos, including sports, lettering, designs, pictures, depicting group affiliations, drugs, alcohol, obscenities, or brand names

Students in violation of the Uniform Dress Policy or book bag policy (students out of uniform) will face serious disciplinary action by the building administrator on Day 1 of the violation. These consequences are developed at the school level. It shall be the policy of the Claiborne County Board of Education that all students enrolled in Health and Physical Education shall be engaged in physical exercise. Students are required to wear uniformed t-shirts as a part of the exercise attire. Students enrolled in the middle and high school shall wear Columbian blue t- shirts and students’ enrolled in grades k-5 shall wear gold t-shirts. Students who do not dress out for exercise shall be given a worksheet (of any subject, not necessarily P. E.) to complete during P. E. class. P.E. teachers shall ensure that this policy is followed. Student Discipline Classroom instruction is the most important function that the school provides. Therefore, it is vitally important that classroom activities be conducted in an orderly environment. Consequently, when in the classroom, students will be expected to behave in accordance with the rules set forth at the building level and individual classrooms. The Board recognizes that discipline is a primary responsibility of the teachers and teachers should employ disciplinary methods which are appropriate and effective. District policies governing student discipline are adopted by the School Board and published annually in student handbooks as official policy statements of the School District. The Board of Education of the School District recognizes the need for an organized disciplinary system which supports teachers’ efforts to teach and which addresses the growth of positive student activities and behaviors. The administration of the school district is charged with the development of a defined, systematic approach to school discipline to be recommended to the Board of Education. Code of Conduct Purpose Students have the right to a free public education, but they are responsible for complying with rules and regulations of the Claiborne County Public School District and the reasonable instructions of all school personnel. In addition to these rules, each local school or building principal may develop additional rules and regulations that govern student behavior and discipline at the school site. However, these campus

rules and procedures must be consistent with policies and procedures established by the Board and the Superintendent. A person who obstructs any teaching, administrative, or extracurricular activity shall be subject to such disciplinary procedures as set forth in this document or as otherwise authorized by law. In accordance with state law and district policy, a copy of this code of conduct is made available to each school age child and his or her parents/legal guardian. Parents/legal guardians and the student are required to sign a statement that they understand and will abide by this code of conduct. Discipline The Claiborne County Public School District has adopted a relationship-based classroom management process to establish and reinforce positive classroom behavior and procedures. In order to guarantee that each student is part of a positive learning environment, procedures are established for students who comply with the rules and consequences for those who do not. If a student is severely disruptive, he/she will be sent immediately to the principal. The discipline plan will be consistently implemented. When a student is sent to the Principal as a consequence, the following are the Recommended Disciplinary Options for each Class Behaviors. The nature and severity of individual student actions will be determinant of any final disciplinary action. CLASS I BEHAVIORS:

1. Violating school dress code. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR CLASS I BEHAVIORS: 1. Contact Parent for teacher-parent conference; In-School Suspension that class period, and for one day if parent does not attend conference. 2. Administrative, student, parent, and teacher(s) conference 3. Suspension and/or other appropriate action deemed necessary by the principal. CLASS II BEHAVIORS: 1. Absences or tardiness (CCPSD Policy) 2. Cutting class or leaving class or school without permission. 3. Bullying {Includes pushing, shoving, intimidation, abusive, vulgar, or profane language, acts or gestured related to another student (written, spoken or gestures)} 4. Participation or public display of fraternal-sorrel fashioned club/memberships that causes disruption is prohibited unless prior approval is given 5. Written or verbal proposition to engage in a sexual act. 6. Insubordination, disrespect for authority, willful disobedience.

Rules Follow directions.

Keep hands, feet and objects to oneself. Be in one’s seat when the bell rings. No yelling, swearing or name calling.

Positives

Praise. Positive notes and phone calls.

Special privileges.

Consequences

7. Defacing of school property (i.e. writing on desks, walls, etc.) 8. Gambling 9. Intentionally providing false information to any school employee or member of the school board. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR CLASS II BEHAVIORS: 1. Contact parents. Parents are financially liable for a child’s destructive acts toward school property and/or persons, and if the school requests, the parents will be required to attend a disciplinary conference. Parents who willfully fail to attend a properly noticed conference may be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Miss. Code Annotated 37-11-53). 2. Three days of In-School Suspension. 3. Loss of privileges to all school activities. (i.e. field trips, assemblies, class parties, athletic events, etc.) 4. A 20-day probation period violation will result in movement to Class III, or IV. 5. Total restitution for any injury to others requiring medical attention, items stolen or damaged. 6. Suspension and/or other appropriate action deemed necessary by the principal. CLASS III BEHAVIORS:

1. Habitual violation of certain Class II and III Behaviors. 2. Vandalizing school property.

3. Fighting (The principals and/or designee have the discretion of determining the severity of the altercation. Participating in or causing a disturbance at school-related activities – riot, group/gang fights, fights or similar disturbances.) 5. Theft or burglary of personal property 6. Creating a disturbance in the classroom, on the bus, on school property, or at any school function. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CLASS III BEHAVIORS: 1. Contact parent. Recommend professional counseling. When counseling is proposed, proof of counseling may be requested before student re-enters school. 2. Total restitution for any injury to others requiring medical attention, items stolen or damaged. 3. Loss of privileges to school activities. 4. Suspension and/or other appropriate action deemed necessary by the principal. 5. Habitual violators of Class III Behaviors may receive up to 10 days suspension. CLASS IV BEHAVIORS: 1. Intimidation, abusive, vulgar, or profane language, acts or gestured related to personnel (written, spoken or gestures) 2. Physical assault of teachers 3. Possession of, sale or use of tobacco-related products or paraphernalia 4. Sale of alcohol or distribution (CCPSD Policy). 5. Use of alcohol A. First Offense will be suspension for a minimum of five (5) days. B. Second Offense will be a recommendation for a long-term 6. Possession of or use of fireworks

7. Bomb threats/setting off fire alarm/vocalizing a false fire alarm. 8. Extortion 9. Engaging in a sexual act 10. Possession of any item that has the shape, form or appearance of or intended use of a weapon. 11. Any other offense which the principal may reasonably judge to fall within this category (i.e. any act committed in the community that adversely affects the school climate and habitual violations of Class II and/or III Behaviors). RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR CLASS IV BEHAVIORS: 1. Habitual violations of certain Class II, and III Behaviors may result in placement in an Alternative Program. 2. Ten or more days suspension, followed by 20 days probation upon returning to school. 3. Long-term suspension with recommendation of placement at the alternative school program followed by semester-equivalent probation. 4. Total restitution for any injury to others requiring medical attention, items stolen or damaged. 5. Other appropriate action deemed necessary by the principal. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CLASS IV BEHAVIORS: 1. Expulsion – For Class V Behaviors, reported violations of the Code of Conduct, and when corrective measures have failed to improve highly disruptive attitudes and actions, expulsion from CCPSD may be recommended. EXPULSION IS DEFINED AS THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL PRIVILEGES IN THE K-12 PROGRAM. 2. While on expelled status, a student is not allowed to enter the campus or building of any of Claiborne County Public Schools during or outside of school hours, nor may the student attend any school-related activity on or off school property. To do so may make the student liable for arrest on grounds of trespassing as well as jeopardizing future chance of re-admission to the school district. 3. Students who meet the entrance requirements for the alternative school program may attend that program. 4. Any compulsory school-age child who becomes involved in any criminal or violent behavior shall be removed from such alternative school program, and with probable cause, the case will be referred to Youth Court. 5. Other appropriate action deemed necessary by the principal. CLASS V BEHAVIORS: 1. Possession or use of deadly weapon. 2. Possession, sale or use of any controlled substance. 3. Possession of any dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine or powerful explosive. 4. Assault resulting in serious physical injury or simple assault on any school employee. 5. Sexual assault or sexual battery as defined under Mississippi Law. 6. Rape. 7. Kidnapping.

8. Indecent liberties with a minor as defined in (Miss. Code Annotated 97-5-23). 9. Assault involving the use of a weapon (NOTE: Weapons are any BB gun, air rifle, air piston, bowie, knife, dirk, dagger, slingshot, sharp-pointed or edged instrument except for those used as instructional supplies, unaltered nail educational property. (Miss. Code Annotated 97-37-14). 10. Possession of a firearm in violation of the law. 11. Murder. RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR CLASS V BEHAVIORS: Students in any school who possess any controlled substance in violation of the Uniform Control Substance Law, a knife, handgun or other firearm or any other instrument considered being dangerous and capable of causing bodily harm or who commit a violent act on school property as defined in Miss. Code Ann. 97-37-17 shall be subject to automatic expulsion from such school for one calendar year by the Superintendent or Principal. The Superintendent may modify the period of time on a case-by-case basis. Such expulsion shall take effect immediately subject to the constitutional rights of due process. Miss. Code Ann. 37-11-18. The Superintendent or his/her designee must immediately report to law enforcement agencies when there is a reasonable belief that an unlawful activity has occurred on school property or during a school activity. The Superintendent or his/her designee may be fined up to $1,000.00, jailed for six months, or both, for failure to report. When a report is received, law enforcement must immediately dispatch an officer and an arrest may be made if there is probable cause. Miss. Code Ann. 37-11-29. NOTE: Depending upon the frequency and severity of the behavior, the recommended disciplinary action may immediately be applied at the next highest level on the discipline ladder. Fighting on Campus Students caught fighting on campus should be escorted to the office immediately and referred to an administrator. Teachers should be alert for “near fight” situations and either ease the situation or escort the potential fighters to the office. Most fights can be avoided if proper, timely action occurs by an educator. The responsibility to supervise students exists for the entire school day. Any observable negative behavior should be addressed by any teacher in the immediate area. FIGHTING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED on the district’s campuses, on the school bus, or at any school-sanctioned event. Expulsion Expulsion is the total exclusion of the student from participation in or attendance at any school-related activity. The Board of Education shall be the sole authority to expel a student from school. A student who has been expelled by the Board of Education from the District must apply in writing to the Board of Education for possible readmission. Requests for readmission must be sent to the Superintendent of Education.

The Board of Education, on recommendation of the Superintendent of Education or his/her designee, may expel or exempt students from attendance in accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the State of Mississippi. Make-Up Work Graded work missed during the time of suspension should be made up at a time designated by the administration. Students shall have the right to make-up all work missed as a result of suspension. In the event the suspension occurs during the last ten (10) days of any term or semester, the student shall be permitted to take such final examinations or submit such required work as would be necessary to complete the course of instruction for that semester or term, provided that all work is completed after the regular school day. In-School Suspension Program Components The in-school suspension program will be conducted Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with the following components: 1. Academics. The academic component is the main part of the program and is designed to keep students current in their academic progress. 2. Counseling is provided Monday through Friday by qualified personnel. This component may consist of lectures, videotape, group discussions, simulation, role playing, and other similar activities. Rules and Regulations Make arrangements to arrive at the ISS program site between 8:00 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. Upon arrival, students are not to interfere with other students on the campus and must depart by 3:30 p.m. Rules for the Instructional and Counseling Setting 1. Students assigned to in-school suspension are not to be in any classroom other than ISS, during the term of their suspension. 2. No talking or conversations. 3. Students must come prepared with study materials. 5. Students must stay on task at all times. 4. Students will complete all work as assigned. No credit is given for school work not completed and handed in. 5. The school dress code will be enforced. 5. No disruptive behavior will be allowed. 7. One restroom break per session will be allowed.

8. Attendance is mandatory: absences will immediately be reported to the principal and the attendance office. Students must be present for the days assigned to the program. 9. Unexcused absences will be referred to the school principal or administrative assistant. 10. No food, drink, or gum is allowed. 11. No illegal substances allowed. 12. Police and building administrators will be notified if a student appears to be under the influence of any drug. 14. No electronic devices or games are allowed. 15. No visits from parents, relatives, or other students. 16. Tests will be taken at the end of the instructional period as assigned. 17. Sleeping is prohibited. 18. Students are responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. 19. Transportation to the in-school suspension site is the same as regular procedures. 20. Telephones are not available for student use. 21. All violations of rules will be reported to the regular school principal. 22. All student handbook rules apply. Socializing Rules 1. No physical contact of any kind between participants. 2. No tampering with the property or belongings of others, either public or private. 3. Theft or destruction of property is grounds for dismissal of the program. Charges can be filed and restitution demanded. 4. Possession of tobacco or any contraband is strictly prohibited. 5. A daily check of pockets, books, bags, lunches, and other containers are made. 6. Instructions will be followed the first time they are given. Failure to comply will result in a verbal warning and the instructions will be restated. A second offense will result in dismissal from the program with no school credit for the day of the infraction or subsequent days. 7. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated. First offense merits a written warning; second offense results in dismissal of the program. Corporal Punishment Corporal punishment is an option in the disciplinary program of the Claiborne County Public School District and will be administered in accordance with the policy of the School District. Reporting of Nonattendance for Compulsory School- Age If a compulsory school-age child has not been enrolled in a school within fifteen (15) calendar days after the first day of the school year of the school which such child is eligible to attend or such child has accumulated five (5) unlawful absences during the school year of the public school in which such child is enrolled, the Superintendent or designee shall, within two (2) school days or within five (5) calendar days, whichever is less, report such absences to the school attendance officer. School-Related Activities

Participation and/or practice in school-related activities (i.e. athletic practices or games, clubs, honor society activities, competitions, etc.) shall not be permitted the day that an unexcused absence occurs. Unauthorized School Visits Unauthorized visitation by individual pupils to schools of different grade levels to attend school functions conducted during the school day shall not be permitted. The Board of Education Policy UQM, Section J-87 & 88 STUDENT CHECK-OUT POLICY, GRADE LEVELS K-12 We suggest that no more than 2 checkouts per week are permitted and that excessive checkouts by parents resulting in educational neglect charges against parents. Permission to Leave School No pupil will be allowed to leave school for any reason without permission from the school principal or his/her designee. For a pupil to be dismissed during the school hour, the following must be observed: 1. If a pupil becomes sick while in school, he/she must report to the principal or his/her designee for admittance to the nurse or permission to go home. Pupils dismissed from school because of illness will be sent directly home or to a doctor only after parents have been contacted (or every effort has been made to do so). 2. Other requests for dismissal during the school day must be submitted in writing from the parent or guardian to the office of the principal or his/her designee. If a pupil knows when he/she comes to school that he/she will need a dismissal, he/she should bring a request from his/her parent or guardian stating the exact time and reason for dismissal. A dismissal constitutes an absence and should be requested only in case of extreme emergency. 3. An official dismissal slip should be completed by the pupil or by a staff member in case the pupil is too young or too ill to complete it for himself/herself. Also, a record of such dismissal shall be kept in the school office. The time of departure, the reasons for the pupil’s dismissal, the fact that a parent or guardian does or does not have knowledge of the pupil’s dismissal, and the time of return, if the pupil returns while school is still in session, shall be entered on this record. 4. No teacher should send a pupil on an errand unless it relates directly to school work. Even then, such dismissal must be cleared through the principal or his/her designee. 5. Leaving the school grounds during the school day without an authorized dismissal constitutes a withdrawal from school and requires that the parent or guardian accompany the pupil to school for reentry. The pupil will not be permitted to make up missed work.

Counseling Services

The School Counselor at each school will provide an array of counseling and peer mediation sessions with students. The counselors will assume responsibilities for educational, career, social and personal guidance. Specific services as individual counseling interviews for students during the school year, group counseling and guidance activities, student appraisal, career development, educational planning, referrals, placement of students in the appropriate educational program and/or job, consulting with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other appropriate individuals, coordinating program evaluation and other services deemed relevant to the overall growth and development of students. Conferences with parents are held by counselors, teachers, and administrators as needed. GRADING AND REPORT CARDS Grades are the teachers’ statements of student academic and behavioral progress. They are designed as an informational instrument for students and parents and should never be discussed among other teachers or students. The following guidelines will be adhered to: 1. Every student shall receive academic grades per week. Teachers must be able to justify every grade given, and every grade must relate to specific benchmarks taught by the teacher. 2. The school session shall be divided into four quarter grading periods. The first two quarters comprise the first semester, and the final two quarters comprise the second semester. 3. The academic grade will accurately reflect student achievement and shall not be reduced in any manner such as taking away points because of disciplinary problems. 4. Each nine week grade will be determined by letting the daily average equal three-fourths of the grade and the nine week exam equal one-fourth of the grade. Teacher will average the daily grades, multiply the daily average by three, add the nine week exam grade, and divide that result by four. This will be the nine week grade. Exempt students will simply get their daily average. 5. Each semester grade shall be the average of its two nine weeks grades. There is no semester exam. 6. The yearly course grade shall be the average of the two semester grades. There is no yearly exam.

The grade distribution shall be as follows:

Letter Grade Numerical Equivalent Word Equivalent A 90-100 Excellent B 80-89 Good C 70-79 Average D 60-69 Below Average F 59 and below Failure

7. Students will have passed a yearly course if their yearly grade is 60 or above, and they will have passed a semester course if the semester grade is 60 or above. 8. Honor Roll – Grades will be used in the five (5) core subjects to calculate Honor Roll status: Reading, Language, Math, Science and Social Studies. 9. Numeric numbers are used in lieu of quality points. It is the policy of the school board to report all grades in numeric fashion. No averages shall be rounded to the nearest tenth. All grades will be extended to the 7th digit. GRADES

Procedures for Recording Grades Objectives: 1. To prepare an analytical report of student progress for parent and student. 2. To motivate students to exert their best effort in the learning process. 3. To provide a uniform technique for converting numerical values to letter grades. 4. To monitor each student’s progress. 5. To evaluate student performance for the purposes of promotion, retention, or alternative programs. Evaluation on report cards 1. Evaluation is based on the demonstrated mastery of the objectives in the Claiborne County School District Curriculum. The Claiborne County School District Curriculum includes the Mississippi State Core Curriculum objectives and the objectives tested by the criterion-referenced tests administered by the district. Teachers are expected to add other objectives based on assessments of the learning needs of students.

2. Term grades will be reported in the following manner:

3. Letter grades of A, B, C, D, F will be printed for each numerical term grade in grades one through five. 4. All conduct and work habits will be graded as S (Satisfactory), and U (Unsatisfactory). 5. Days present, days absent, and times tardy will be recorded each term. The student’s height and weight will be recorded for the end-of-the-year reporting in the student’s cumulative folder. PROMOTION AND RETENTION POLICY Student Intervention Process The Claiborne County Public School District is committed to improving student achievement for students not mastering content and for students with learning challenges. As a preventive measure for ensuring the academic success of students, instructional interventions will be used to prevent

students from failing. If, after a period of intervening and a student is unable to master subject content, a student will be referred to the Student Intervention / Teacher Support Team. Referrals will also be made for other areas of concern such as attendance, medical, behavior, and emotional disturbance. Parents and instructional personnel are a vital part of this collaborative team approach. If a student is suspected of having a disability, appropriate interventions and/or assessments may be recommended by the team. In accord with policy of the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) an instructional model designed to meet the needs of every student is required in every school district. The model consists of three tiers of instruction which shall be a part of the district’s intervention process. Tier 1: Quality classroom instruction based on MS Curriculum Frameworks and the Common Core Standards. Tier 2: Focused supplemental instruction

Tier 3: Intensive interventions specifically designed to meet the individual needs of students

Teachers should use progress monitoring information to (a) determine if students are making adequate progress, (b) identify students as soon as they begin to fall behind, and (c) modify instruction early enough to ensure each and every student gains essential skills. Monitoring of student progress is an ongoing process that may be measured through informal classroom assessment, benchmark assessment instruments, and large-scale assessments. If strategies at Tiers 1 & 2 are unsuccessful, students must be referred to the Teacher Support Team. The TST is the problem-solving unit responsible for interventions developed at Tier III. Each school must have a Teacher Support Team (TST) implemented in accordance with the process developed by Mississippi Department of Education. The chairperson of the TST shall be the school principal as the school’s instructional leader. Interventions will be:

designed to address the deficit areas; research based; implemented as designed by the TST; and supported by data regarding the effectiveness of interventions.

After a referral is made, the TST must develop and begin implementation of an intervention(s) within two weeks. No later than eight weeks after implementation of the intervention(s) the TST must conduct a documented review of the interventions to determine success of the intervention. No later than 16 weeks after implementation of the intervention(s), a second review must be conducted to determine whether the intervention is successful. If the intervention(s) is determined to be unsuccessful, then the student will be referred for a comprehensive assessment.

In addition to failure to make adequate progress following Tiers 1 & 2, students will be referred to the TST for interventions as specified in guidelines developed by MDE if any of the following events occur. A. Grades 1-3: A student has failed one (1) grade; B. Grades 4-12: A student has failed two (2) grades; C. A student failed either of the preceding two grades and has been suspended or expelled for

more than twenty (20) days in the current school year; OR

D. A student scores at the Minimal level on any part of the Grade 3 or Grade 7 Mississippi Curriculum Test.

E. Behavior. Referrals to the Teacher Support Team must be made within ten (20) school days of a school year if the student meets any of the criteria A-D stated above.

Parent Notification The Claiborne County Public School District has as its student achievement focus to consistently keep parents informed of the academic performance of their child. In doing so, during a grading period if a child is in danger of failing a course, every 15 days a Notice of Possible Failure must be sent to parents with an attachment of the instructional interventions tried with the student Parents must sign this notice and return it to the appropriate teacher. Alternative Education Alternative Education Guidelines The Claiborne County Public School District operates an Alternative Education Program which is located at Port Gibson High School and serves students from all three schools. Assignment to the alternative program is made by a screening committee or an IEP committee based on the student’s misconduct. Students are usually assigned to attend the alternative program for a minimum of nine weeks before their disposition is reviewed to return to the mainstream of the regular program. They may stay longer than nine weeks if they have failed to demonstrate good behavior and work habits. Student Support Services EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION SERVICES Exceptional education services are provided by the Claiborne County Public School District. The Claiborne County Public School District participates in a state-wide effort to identify, locate, and evaluate children with disabilities through 21 years of age. For more information, call the Child Find Coordinator, Mr. William Kilcrease at 601-437-4232. The School District provides free appropriate public educational programming for students with disabilities between the ages of three and twenty-one, inclusive, including those children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school. Opportunities for students with disabilities are provided in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and court decisions. Students with disabilities requiring special education instructional services who wish to receive a standard high school diploma must meet all unit/credit requirements and take the subject area exams and perform at established performance levels. Allowable and/or appropriate modifications will be made in testing procedures for students with disabilities. Least Restrictive Environment The School District shall, to the maximum extent appropriate, educate students with disabilities with students having no disabilities in their age group. The removal of the students with disabilities from the regular educational environment shall occur only when the nature or severity of the disability is

such that education in regular classes with supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. A continuum of alternative placements, based on the individual students’ Individualized Education Program, will be provided to students with disabilities in the district. Placement of the student will be determined at least on an annual basis and will be as close to the students’ home as possible. This does not mean that, if there is only one child in a school who needs the services of a teacher in a self-contained class, this will be provided on a one-to-one basis when there are several other students with the same need in a nearby school or school district. These students will be brought together to be provided appropriate services. In selecting the least restrictive environment for each student, consideration is given to the potentially harmful effects on the student or the quality of services needed. If a student with a disability can function socially, emotionally, and mentally with students with no disabilities of a similar chronological age, he/she will be given that opportunity in accord with his/her IEP. Equal opportunities for participation to the maximum extent appropriate in a variety of nonacademic and extracurricular services must be available to children with disabilities. Special criteria for determining least restrictive environment are as follows: A. No special education classes, separate school, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment are occurring unless the nature of severity of the student’s handicap(s) is such that education in regular education classes with the use of supplementary aids cannot be achieved satisfactorily, and integration with children without disabilities is occurring as much as appropriate for each child; B. No child is placed in a setting where he/she cannot participate in activities with children without disabilities who are his/her age peers unless his/her IEP specifically states that such participation is not appropriate; and C. No children with disabilities are placed in structures separate from the regular school building, unless (1) no more than fifty (50) percent of all self-contained and fifty (50) percent of all resource classes for children with disabilities in the attendance center are housed in such structures, classes serving a comparable number of children without disabilities are housed in comparable structures, and at least fifty (50) percent of such children without disabilities are not Title 1, ESEA; or (2) the programs provided in the separate structures are so special that they cannot be provided in the regular school building. INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) POLICY The district will develop or revise, whichever is appropriate, and implement an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student with a disability. The plan will be reviewed periodically but not less than annually. A. It is the responsibility of the Local Survey Committee to initiate and conduct meetings to develop, review, and/or revise the IEP of a student with a disability. B. For students served during the previous school session, the IEP will be in effect the first day of providing services to those students for the next session. C. For a child with a disability who did not receive special education or related services during the previous school session, a meeting to develop the IEP will be held within thirty (30) days of the

eligibility determination. (If this situation occurs, District personnel will document the fact that the parents are fully informed of their right to development of the IEP within the thirty (30) day limit. D. An IEP will be in effect for each child with a disability before special education and/or related services are provided. E. Parents will be given the opportunity to participate in a meeting to develop or revise (whichever is appropriate) their child’s IEP. The parents will be notified by the principal of the participants, purpose, time, and location of the meeting. The meeting will be scheduled at a mutually agreed on time and place. F. At least two (2) attempts through methods such as letters, telephone calls, and home or other visits will be made to involve parents in a meeting to develop the IEP. Records of these attempts will be kept on file. If the two (2) attempts fail to get the parents to a meeting, the required personnel will then have the meeting to develop the IEP. If, at any point in the attempts to get the parents to meet, they refuse, the other attempts are not required. Emphasis will be placed on trying to persuade the parents to come to the meeting. G. The IEP team will include at least one regular education teacher if the child is or might be participating in regular education environment; at least one special education teacher, and district representative who is knowledgeable about general curriculum and about availability of resources and can interpret instructional implications of evaluation results. Other individuals with knowledge or expertise about the child including related services personnel may be included at discretion of the parents or the district. At least one or both of the parents, the child when appropriate, and other individuals, at the discretion of the district or the parent, will be included on the IEP team. H. Every effort, including arrangement for an interpreter for parents who are deaf or whose native Language is other than English, will be made to insure that the parent understands the proceedings of the meeting. J. The IEP will be implemented as soon as possible and without undue delay following the meeting. K. A copy of their student’s IEP will be on file, will be protected in accord with confidentiality, and will be given to parents on request. L. Each student’s IEP will be reviewed and revised at least annually or prior to annually if appropriate. (1) The principal will arrange for the parents of the special education student to meet with the IEP Team . (2) The IEP Team is to review and revise the educational plans of students enrolled in special education classes and make appropriate recommendations. M. The IEP Team will initiate and conduct meetings to review, develop, and revise the IEP of each student in a private or parochial school. (1) The student’s teacher or other representative from the private school will be in attendance at the meeting. If a representative from the private school cannot be present at the meeting, participation by the private school will be provided through individual or conference calls or written communication. (2) The District has the final responsibility for the development of the IEP for each student it places in a private or parochial school; however, after the initial placement, the District has the option to delegate this responsibility to the private or parochial school. Even then, the District shall insure that IEP meetings are conducted in accordance with the above steps. N. In the event that a student with a disability is convicted under State Law as an adult and is incarcerated in an adult prison, that student will not be allowed to participate in State and district-wide assessments and the district will not be required to provide statements of transition planning and services. The IEP Team may modify the IEP or placement if the State has demonstrated security or “compelling penological interest” that cannot be otherwise accommodated.

O. The school district shall ensure that the parents of each child with a disability are members of any group making placement decisions in accordance with state and/or federal laws. ACCESSIBILITY FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES In the provision of services to students and employees with both physical and learning disabilities, the Claiborne County Public School District complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. HOMEROOM PERIOD On a daily basis, students report to homerooms following the early bell to begin classes. This is a time for students to bond with their teacher and learn important school rules, network with peers, receive extra help with their studies. It is important for students to report to homeroom since this is a valuable time of the day. DETERMINING HONOR ROLL Honor roll lists are prepared on the basis of the numerical grade average of all subjects on the Appraisal Report. A student with a numerical grade average below 84 will not be considered to be Honor Roll. Conduct grades will not be a consideration for this list. The Honor Roll shall be based on the numerical average rounded off to the nearest whole number of all subjects. The following criteria will be used to determine a student’s honor roll classification: 1. Superintendent’s Scholar – A student must possess a cumulative average of 4.00 to be considered as a Superintendent’s Scholar in all core subjects. 2. Principal’s Scholar – A student whose letter grades reflect all A’s and cumulative average of 3.5-3.99 in the core subject. 3. Honor Roll – Letter grades averaged in all the core subjects at least 3.0 or higher are considered to be honor roll status. Student Activities In addition to programs of classroom instruction, schools shall provide programs of student activities to meet educational needs to the extent that resources are available. Membership and participation in student activities shall be open to all students without restrictions as to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or handicap. All student activities and student organizations provided by the School District must be under the direct supervision of assigned school personnel and shall be subject to the regulations of the school administration. Sponsorship of clubs will be assigned by the principal. Extracurricular Activities All students are encouraged to participate in the extracurricular activities which are designed to foster interests and talents of students, to develop good character traits and personality, to stimulate the growth of the individual in association with the group, and to have a greater understanding and appreciation of experiences that are outgrowths of extracurricular activities. Students interested in participating in extracurricular activities should contact their principal or counselor for additional information regarding eligibility rules for students’ participation in extracurricular activities.

Homecoming Procedures Homecoming Procedures are published under a separate cover of guidelines which govern this process. All candidates must have attended the Claiborne County Public School District for at least one full academic year.

Hall Passes

Students are to be issued a hall pass by the appropriate faculty member and must have this pass on their person when moving in the hallway once classes are in session. Teachers are to sign the hall pass page indicating where the student is to report and when he/she left the classroom. Teachers are to minimize the amount of times a student leaves the classroom and the number of students who leave at one time. Most problems that occur on campus are when students are unsupervised and located in an area where they should not be.

Hall Traffic and Conduct

When the bell rings, teachers should be at their doors to assist with monitoring the halls. There is to be no running or loitering in the halls. Students are to use the shortest route and keep to the right without unnecessary loud talking or shouting. Boys and girls are reminded to avoid displays of affection on the school grounds and anywhere on the school premises.

Homework All home assignments will be an outgrowth of objectives being studied in the classroom. Homework assignments generally fall into three categories: 1) practice, 2) preparation, and 3) extension activities. Homework assigned for the purpose of practice or preparation usually takes the form of written assignments, reading or drill work. Extension activities are usually long-term projects or problem-solving activities. CELL PHONE POLICY Please be advised that the following Cell Phone Policy is in place and shall be enforced by the principals of each school. Parents and students, this policy is in place to protect you and the Claiborne County Public School. Students who fail to comply with the Cell phone policy will and shall be recommended for expulsion to Alternative School. Students in the Claiborne County School District are prohibited from cell phone possession and use during the course of the school day. The use of the cell phone will include ringing, talking, text messaging, sharing, etc. such actions are prohibited and the phone will be subject to confiscation. 1. First Violation of this policy: If a student has a cell phone or is caught using one, the cell phone

will be taken from the student and kept in the office for five (5) calendar days. 2. Second Violation of this policy: If the second offense occurs within the same school year, the cell

phone will be kept in the principal’s office for twenty (20) calendar days. After that time, the parent must pick-up the phone from the principal’s office and /or the student will be placed in In-School Suspension (ISS) for three (3) days.

3. Third Violation of this policy : In the event that a third offense occurs within the same school year, the phone will be taken and returned at the end of the academic school year and /or the student will be In - School Suspension (ISS) for five (5) days.

Disclaimer: The Claiborne County School District employees have no financial responsibility for confiscated items that are lost, stolen, or damaged. Searches Current safe and orderly schools legislation allows school officials to conduct searches of students. Students in the district have the right to privacy and security against arbitrary invasion of their personal property by school officials. However, the Board of Education must maintain an atmosphere conducive to the pursuit of its educational goals, including a limited right to search students’ personal belongings and issued school property when it is in the interest of the overall welfare of the other students or is necessary to preserve the good order and discipline of the school. The teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator may search the person of a student and his or her personal items either by conducting a random search with a metal detector or when there is probable cause to believe that the student has in his possession any of the items on his/her person as weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or other materials or objects that are considered a violation of Board Policy. Interviews with Students by Persons outside the School System No person other than officials of the Claiborne County School District shall be allowed to interview students at the school except with the approval of the principal. Principals shall give such approval when convinced that the interview is in the best interest of the student or is in the interest of justice, and after reasonable effort has been made to contact the parent or guardian. When a police or court officer requests permission to interview a student, the principal or some member of the professional staff designated by the principal shall be present at the interview. Certain exceptions to this policy may be allowed in cases of child abuse. School Visitation Policy/Parent Teacher Conference Parents and community members are encouraged to visit the Claiborne County Public schools. However, all visitors must report to the office before going to any other part of the building. Parents, former students, and other citizens of the community are cordially invited to attend school programs and functions at any time during the school year. All visitors during the day must report directly to the principal’s office. Parents who wish to talk with an individual teacher will need to schedule an appointment through the school office. Dismissal before end of school Students should not be dismissed before the end of the school day except under urgent circumstances where requested by a parent or legal guardian. Dismissals may be approved only by

the principal or assistant principal then in charge. In the event of the absence of both of the principal and assistant principal, the authority to approve dismissals must be delegated in writing to a faculty or staff member. If someone other than a parent or legal guardian requests the dismissal of a student, the principal or other authority must not act on such request unless and until: 1. A written request signed by a parent or legal guardian, must have verification as to the authenticity of the signature on such request; and 2. Direct communication has been made with a parent or legal guardian for verification. Use of Office Phone

Students will use the office phone in the main office only in case of emergency.

Leaving the School Campus

No one is to leave the school grounds without a written permit from the attendance secretary. Parents are contacted concerning the student checking out. Parents or adult picking up students are required to come in and sign the student out. If this is an excused absence, the student will be permitted to make-up the work he/she missed; however, the student is responsible to make arrangements with his/her teacher for the make-up work. This should be done in accordance with the written make-up work policy. If a student checks out of school for a doctor's appointment or any other reason, he/she must bring an excuse from the doctor or parent must sign he/her in if they return to school in order for the absence to be excused. Teachers are not to send students off campus to run errands for any reason without permission from an administrator.

Loitering on School Grounds Students shall not loiter on school premises during or after school hours. No one is permitted to use any of the school facilities unless there is a member of the faculty present. This applies to students as well as adults.

Students are not allowed to remain at school for practice, rehearsal, etc., without their sponsor staying with them. Sponsors are not to leave school until students have gone or been picked up. Important - this must be followed.

Drug-Free Policy

The use of drugs will not be tolerated in the Claiborne County Public Schools. Each school is a drug free school and its drug-free policy will be strictly adhered to. Students caught using drugs or alcohol or suspected of the offense will be turned over to the principal. A guilty student will be subject to severe disciplinary action. Emergency Contact

All students must have on file in the school office an up-to-date address and telephone number, as well as numbers of two (2) people who can be contacted in case of an emergency. If at any time during the year a change in this emergency information changes, the student should report the change to his/her homeroom teacher. The homeroom teacher will report the change to the office. AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT DISTURBANCES AND DISRUPTIONS IN OR ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS OPERATED BY THE CLAIBORNE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT It shall be unlawful for any person to create a disturbance in or on the grounds of a school operated by the Claiborne County Public School District by whistling, laughing, talking, shouting, making any kind of loud, boisterous or disturbing noises, or in any way willfully disturbing or disrupting any session, program or activity in any of said schools, or on the grounds thereof. Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined up to the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300) or sentenced to serve ninety days (90) in jail or both. Students should not be on the school grounds after regular school hours unless approved and/or supervised by school personnel. Parental Responsibility A parent may be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined up to $1,000.00, imprisoned for six (6) months, or both for knowingly allowing a student under the age of 18 to have, own or carry a concealed weapon unless otherwise exempted by law. (MS Code Ann. 97-37-15) Report of Sexual Misconduct The principal and superintendent must timely notify in a timely manner law enforcement and the district attorney of an accusation of fondling or sexual involvement with a minor student who is under the age of 18 by a school employee who is 18 or older once the principal and superintendent receive a report and there exists a reasonable basis to believe that the accusation is true. (MS Code Ann. 97-5-24) Sexual Harassment In accordance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended in 1972, Section 703, no student in the Claiborne County Public School District shall be subject to sexual harassment. It is the intent of the school district to maintain an environment free from sexual harassment of any kind. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature amounting to or constituting harassment are prohibited. Complaints of violation of this policy may be made to the appropriate building administrator or the Title IX coordinator, without fear of reprisal. Should violations prove to be legitimate, the offending employee/student shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Medical Information- Illnesses/Injuries If a student is injured or becomes ill during the school day, he/she should come to the principal’s office and his/her parents will be notified. The school must be able to contact parents/guardians or a designated adult. Parents must provide the school office with correct, up-to-date telephone numbers. Only simple first aid is administered at school, and no medication will be provided or administered by school personnel unless it is prescribed by the doctor, and parents have explicit written directions on file with the school. Parents may come to school to give other medication to their child if it is needed during the day. The child will be called to the office. Medication Prescribed medicine may be brought to school if the parent has completed and submitted a medication form and may be dispensed by the school nurse or designee. Parents must send full instructions for dispensation of the medication. Parents should also only send the dosage to be given at school - not the entire bottle. If a child is taking any medication that would interfere with his academic performance, school officials should be notified to make appropriate accommodations. School – Based Nurse Clinics The school nurse is available to help prevent disease and to promote health at each school. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION Cars Driving and Parking Regulations: Once on the campus, students are asked to park their cars and proceed directly to the building. Students are assigned a specific parking place for monitoring purposes. They are not to sit in cars or be in the parking lot at any time other than the time upon arriving and departing. Extreme caution should be exercised at all times. Fast or reckless driving will not be allowed. Drives around the schools are considered to be an extension of the school’s parking lots. Motor Bikes and Motor Scooters It is a violation of law to drive a motor scooter or motor bike without a driver’s license. Food Service Program Breakfast/ Lunch The Claiborne County Public School District has a closed breakfast and lunch period. Breakfast and lunch are furnished for students every day in the school lunchroom. Only students arriving on late buses will be served after the designated breakfast period. Lunchroom Expectations

Student behavior in the lunchroom should be based on courtesy and cleanliness. Students will go through the lunchroom line without cutting. Students are to remain in the lunchroom until the lunch period is over. At no time will food be allowed outside the lunchroom. Student Activity Fund Money derived from the student body as a whole shall be so expended as to benefit the student body as a whole, and not for the benefit of a special group. School pictures and other student sponsored activities such as prom dues and senior dues fall under the Student Activity Fund. School pictures are individual pictures taken of students enrolled in the district and taken at school by an officially contracted photographer during the school day. School pictures will be made available to students during each school year. Funds derived from the sale of pictures to the students will be reported through individual school activities funds. The Superintendent of Education shall establish guidelines for uniform sale of pictures and expenditures of monies received for said sale. Student Fees, Fines, and Charges Each student shall be informed that he/she is responsible for every textbook issued to him and that in the event a textbook is lost or damaged, charges will be assessed based on the condition of the textbook at the time it was issued. Student Fees By authority vested in the Superintendent of Education by the Board of Trustees, reasonable fees, but not more than the actual cost, may be charged for the following: A. Supplemental instructional materials and supplies, excluding textbooks, B. Materials and supplies related to a valid curriculum educational objective, including transportation, and C. Extracurricular activities and any other educational activities of the school district which are not designated as valid curriculum educational objectives, such as band trips and athletic events. Fees for supplemental instructional material and supplies related to a valid curriculum educational objective, including transportation, shall be charged unless the pupil is unable to pay for reasons of financial hardship. Fees for identical materials, such as workbooks, will be the same at all schools. Fees for extracurricular activities and any other education activities of the school district which are not designated as valid curriculum educational objectives, such as band trips and athletic events, are examples from the financial hardship waiver. Textbooks Textbooks are issued at the beginning of the school year. The student is urged not to abuse or misuse them, as fines will be assessed on books showing improper care. Parents are required to sign book cards assuming full responsibility for the books. In case a book is lost, the adjusted list price must be paid or a new book supplied.

Library Students may go the library before, during and after the school day to check out library materials. Books may be checked out of the library for two weeks, but may be returned in less time or renewed for a longer period. A fine will be charged for each school day when books are not returned on the date due unless the student is excused by the principal from payment of fines. Current magazines are to be read in the library or checked out overnight. Books which are placed on reserve by teachers for a special unit of work may be checked out of the library at the close of the school day, but must be returned before 8:15 the following morning. Lost and Found All items found about the building should be taken immediately to the principal’s office. Also, inquiries about lost items should be made in the principal’s office. If the lost item has not been turned in, a description of the item and the student’s name should be left with the person in charge of the lost and found desk. Valuable articles such as money, purses, glasses, car keys, watches, and jewelry should be brought to the principal’s office where the items may be identified. Receiving Gifts at School The delivery of candy, flowers, balloons and other types of gifts to a classroom from an individual to a student will not be allowed. Role of PTA/PTSA The mission of the Parent-Teacher Association is to strengthen the bond between the school and the home. All parents are invited and urged to join the PTA/PTSA and to participate in all projects, workshops, and meetings. Solicitation Solicitation of students for funds for any cause is permitted only when prior permission has been given by the Superintendent. No agencies or persons shall be permitted to use school premises to exhibit or offer for sale articles or services to students except those articles and services approved by the Superintendent of Education or his/her designee. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION Bus Once a student is in route to school, he/she becomes the responsibility of the school district. Therefore, appropriate behavior required in the classroom is also expected while a student is in route to school.

Students who reside one mile or more from the school to which they are assigned are provided the opportunity of riding an assigned district operated school bus. While on the Bus 1. Follow directions the first time that they are given. 2. Stay in your assigned seat. Keep hands and feet on the bus to yourself. 3. No eating, drinking, or smoking. 4. No cursing or fighting. 5. No loud talking. The Advisory Board of the Claiborne County PTA/PTSA recommended and the Claiborne County School Board adopted the following rules, regulations and disciplinary actions pertaining to student conduct on school buses. 1. Level I A. Infractions (1) Horse playing (name calling, teasing, wrestling, running, pinching, etc.) (2) Changing seats. (3) Standing. (4) Eating and drinking. (5) Throwing objects on or from bus. (6) Hanging out of windows. (7) Excessive noise. B. Penalties (1) Warning from driver (1st offense). (2) Principal notified, parents called for conference (2nd offense). (3) Suspended from bus – 1 to 3 days, parent return conference (3rd offense). (4) Suspended from school- 1 to 3 days, parent return conference (4th offense). 2. Level II A. Infractions (1) Profane language. (2) Fighting. (3) Smoking. (4) Fondling. (5) Alcohol. (6) Enter/exit wrong stop. (7) Enter/exit wrong bus. (8) Vandalism (defacing).* (9) Stealing. (10) Harassing.

B. Penalties (1) One to five (5) days suspension, exit/enter parent conference (1st offense). (2) Five (5) to ten (10) days suspension, exit/enter parent conference (2nd offense). (3) Loss of riding privileges to ninety (90) school days (3rd offense). *May carry financial responsibility for damages. 3. Level III A. Infractions (1) Weapons (guns, knives, brass knuckles, etc.).* (2) Drugs. (3) Alcohol consumption. (4) Striking driver (5) Threatening driver (6) Chemicals/explosives B. Penalties Ninety (90) days suspension from school to expulsion from district. May carry violation of local, state, or federal laws. *Other items which can be used as weapons are also included (hammers, ice picks, scissors, screw drivers, etc.).

STUDENT BULLYING POLICY The Claiborne County School District does not condone and will not tolerate bullying or harassing behavior. Bullying or harassing behavior is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic that (a) places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or (b) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits. A "hostile environment" means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior. Bullying or harassing behavior will not be condoned or tolerated when it takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, or when it takes place off school property when such conduct, in the determination of the school superintendent or principal, renders the offending person's presence in the classroom a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a whole. The Claiborne County School District will make every reasonable effort to ensure that no student or school employee is subjected to bullying or harassing behavior by other school employees or students. Likewise, the District will make every reasonable effort to ensure that no person engages in any act of reprisal or retaliation against a victim, witness or a person 'with reliable information about an act of bullying or harassing behavior. The District encourages anyone who has witnessed or has reliable information that a student or school employee has been subject to any act of bullying or harassing behavior to report the incident to the appropriate school official.

Students and employees in the Claiborne County School District are protected from bullying or harassing behavior by other students or employees. It is the intent of the Board and the administration to maintain an environment free from bullying and harassing behavior. This complaint procedure provides a process for filing, processing and resolving complaints of such conduct. Adherence to these procedures is mandatory. The failure of any person to follow these procedures will constitute a waiver of the right to pursue a complaint at any level, including review by the Board.

STUDENT COMPLAINTS OF BULLYING OR HARRASSING BEHAVIOR 1. Definitions Bullying or harassing behavior is any pattern of gestures or written; electronic or verbal communications; or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic that (a) places it student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or (b) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits.

A "hostile environment" means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior. Bullying or harassing behavior will not be condoned or tolerated when it takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, or when it takes place off school property when such conduct, in the determination of the school superintendent or principal, renders the offending person’s presence in the classroom a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a whole.

II. Procedures for Processing a Complaint Any student, school employee or volunteer who feels he/she has been a victim of bullying or harassing behavior, or has witnessed or who has reliable information that a student, school employee or volunteer has been subject to bullying or harassing behavior shall report such conduct to a teacher, principal, counselor or other school official. The report shall be made promptly but no later than five (5) calendar days after the alleged act or acts occurred. The school official shall complete a "Bullying/Harassing Behavior" complaint form which shall include the name of the reporting person, the specific nature and date of the misconduct, the names of the victim of the misconduct, the names of any witnesses and any other information that would assist in the investigation of the complaint. The report shall be given promptly to the principal or superintendent who shall institute an immediate investigation. Complaints against the principal shall be made to the superintendent and complaints against the superintendent shall be made to the Board chairperson.

The complaint shall be investigated promptly. Parents will be notified of the nature of any complaint involving their child. The District official will arrange such meetings as may be necessary with all concerned parties within five (5) working days after initial receipt of the complaint by the District. The parties will have an opportunity to submit evidence and a list of witnesses. All findings related to the complaint will be produced in writing. The District official conducting the investigation shall notify the victim and parents as appropriate when the investigation is completed and a decision regarding disciplinary action, as warranted, is determined. If the victim is not satisfied with the decision of the District official, he/she may submit a written appeal to the superintendent. Such appeal shall be filed within ten (10) working days after receipt of the results of the initial decision. The superintendent will arrange such meetings with the victim and other affected parties as deemed necessary to discuss the appeal. The superintendent shall provide a written decision to the victim's appeal within ten (10) working days. If the victim is not satisfied with the decision of the superintendent, a written appeal may be filed with the Board. Such appeal shall be filed within ten (10) working days after receipt of the decision of the superintendent. The Board shall, within twenty (20) working days, allow the victim and parents as appropriate to appear before the Board to present reasons for dissatisfaction with the decision of the superintendent. The Board shall provide a written decision within ten (10) working days following the victim's appearance before the Board.

Ref: SB 2015; Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-301(e)