Welcome to a new school year!

An overview of the IC Parent and Student

Handbook

Attendance• Your daughter MUST be here and in

her 1st period class by 8:15 am sharp• After 8:16, she is tardy and must check

in at office• 3 tardies in one semester count as a

full day absence, unexcused• Any quizzes or tests missed, can’t be

made up

If she is sick…• Call the attendance line by 7:45

(435-5329) 24/7• No phone call = unexcused

absence• If she’s sick 3 days or more, she

must bring a doctor note or absence will not be excused.

absences hurt grades!• Any student who has 10 or more

absences per semester (whether excused or unexcused) will earn a grade of 69/F in that semester

• If there’s a long-term medical problem, let us help you arrange for home-bound tutoring

Checking out early• A good rule of thumb – save it for true

emergencies• Try to schedule dr. appointments on Thursdays

after 2:30• Students aren’t allowed to check themselves out,

even students over 18 with their own cars• Permission to check out must be verified by a

parent, preferably in advance, in writing• Check-out must be OK’d by each teacher whose

class will be missed.

Leaving without permission

• We must be able to guarantee to you that we know where your daughter is, and that she’s safe

• Students who leave campus without notification and permission will be suspended

• Repeated infractions will lead to expulsion

Planning an absence

• If your family is planning an important trip during the school year, please ask about it in advance

• Administration discretion will determine whether this can be an excused absence, depending on the student’s prior attendance record and her academic performance

College Visits• Seniors and second-semester juniors

are allowed and encouraged to take two “college visit” days per semester

• Students must clear them in advance with the Guidance Office, and bring the required forms back to Guidance after the visit for the college visit to be an approved, excused college visit

Cars on campus• For campus security, any student driving her

own car to campus must register the car with the office

• Registration decals are $5 per year• Seniors are allowed on-campus parking at no

additional charge once the car is registered• Other students may purchase an on-campus

parking space for $50/semester, first come - first served (on-campus parking is limited.)

Cell phones and electronics

• MUST be turned off during school hours

• Violations result in confiscation of device and $25 fine to re-claim it

• For any repeat violations, fine doubles from previous offense

Community Service Hours

• In the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy who founded IC, all students are required to perform community service

• Freshmen and Sophomores, 15 hours/year

• Juniors and Seniors, 20 hours/year

Conduct on Campus

• Whether on or off campus, any student wearing the IC uniform is expected to conduct herself in accordance with the highest behavior standards

• This includes: courtesy and respect to fellow students and guests, honesty, and personal integrity

Detention and Discipline

• In most cases, teachers handle classroom discipline

• More serious infractions (insubordination, disrespect, dishonesty, etc.) will earn detention

• Detentions are on Thursdays, from 2:30-3:45, and will be served within one week.

• Failure to serve detention leads to ISS (unexcused absence, no grades will be made up)

Discipline, General• ICCS has a “zero tolerance” for these offenses:• Weapons on campus• Any intentional physical injury to another person• Tobacco or alcohol products on campus, even if

not being used by student when found• Prescription, non-prescription, or illegal drugs in

student’s possession on campus, even if not being used by student when found

Food Service• ICCS serves hot, nutritious lunch at a

reasonable cost daily; meal plan is available.• Our food service provider: 3D Catering --

check out their gorgeous web site: 3dcateringmemphis.com

• “Spirit Shop” sells snack items to students at break time

• Students may bring lunch and/or beverages from home

• Please – don’t bring fast food for your daughter.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Students must keep a 2.0 – C average to participate

• Students falling below 2.0 will be required to suspend participation for 2 weeks, or until GPA is brought up

Exams• Exams are given twice annually, in

December and in May• Exams are comprehensive and count 20% of

a student’s grade• Teachers MAY choose to exempt Seniors

with an A average, no tardies, one or fewer absences, and no detentions

Drug Testing of Students

• ICCS students, in accord with the policies of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, are subject to random drug testing

• Parents will be contacted immediately if drug test is positive, and required to bring a “drug-free” certified test from your doctor before your daughter can be re-admitted

Guests on Campus• For security reasons, students will not be

allowed to entertain friends from other schools as guests on campus

• Relatives are welcome to visit on campus if the student’s parent provides written verification and the guest obtains a “Visitor” pass from the Office

Internet at school• All students will sign an “Internet

Acceptable Use” policy at the beginning of the school year

• This covers all use of school computers• Violations of this policy will result in

suspension of student access to library or computer lab

Social Media• Please monitor your daughter’s

facebook, twitter, Instagram, etc. use• We punish cyber bullying.• We have a legal interest in any social

media content that reflects badly on ICCS, and will enforce our policies.

Lockers for Students• Each student will be assigned a

locker and a padlock• Students should keep lockers

locked during the day• Fine for lost lock = $10 at end of

school year• Only school-issued locks can be

used

Medicine at School• Students may NEVER medicate themselves

at school – that’s Tennessee law• All medicines must be turned in to the office

with exact written permission from a parent• Medicine must be in its original container,

with prescription label

School Trips• Students will take part in off-campus

activities from time to time during the year• Sophomores visit the Great Smoky

Mountains Institute at Tremont for a weekend in late February

• Juniors’ class retreat (overnight) is at Victory Ranch

• Seniors’ class retreat (overnight) is at a location chosen by the class and retreat leaders

Uniforms• Your daughter should be completely

dressed in the school uniform when she gets to school.

• This includes skirt, proper blouse, saddle oxford shoes, white crew socks, and the uniform fleece jacket and/or black tights if it’s cold

• Any tee shirt under the blouse must be solid white (no writing or logo)

“Out of Uniform” Days…

• …are few and far between• On some special occasions, students will get

advance notice of a chance to come to school out of uniform

• Usually, this will mean “jeans and a sweater or tee shirt” Some days will be “dress up” days.

What is OK on such days?

• Modest jeans and tee shirt (not skin-tight, no holes, no objectionable slogans on either jeans or tee shirt)

• Students should NOT plan to wear shorts, spaghetti-strap shirts, cut-offs

• And, for safety reasons – no flip flop shoes

• Consult handbook for complete details.

REALLY important stuff --

• EARRINGS: one pair, ear lobes only, no dangling earrings, no bars.

• HAIR COLOR: one color only, of a natural hair color

• NAIL POLISH: one color only (any color,) same on all ten fingers

REALLY important stuff --

• SHOPPING FOR A DANCE DRESS• NO strapless, backless, midriff cut-

outs, or visible cleavage• MUST be fingertip length or longer• ANY OTHER STYLE, and we will

provide your daughter a wrap or ask her to leave.