Student Handbook

Taylor School Mission Statement
     The mission of Taylor Elementary School is to create a stimulating learning environment that is safe, organized, disciplined, and patriotic.  Our desire is to promote the extension of intellectual, technological, physical, social, aesthetic, and emotional development in our students.
 

Beliefs
  • We work with parents, the community, and business-education partnerships to build relationships that enrich our students' learning.
  • We provide a climate for students where acceptance, mutual trust, and respect are fostered.
  • We provide a safe and physically comfortable environment that stimulates student learning.
  • We promote the extension of intellectual, physical, and emotional development in our students supporting the school's mission statement.
  • We challenge each student to be a responsible, self-disciplined individual that becomes a future leader and productive citizen who is capable of meeting life's daily challenges.
  • We encourage each student to think creatively and independently.
 

Change of Address
     The school must have a correct home address and at least two telephone numbers where parents or relatives can be reached in case of an emergency.  Please notify the secretary at 478-8817 or 478-8818 if any changes occur.

 

Conferences
     Parents wishing to talk with a teacher or principal should telephone 478-8817 for an appointment.  Please do not hesitate to call when any problem arises, or when we can be of assistance.

 

Attendance
     Regular attendance at school is necessary in order for your child to be educated to his/her maximum potential.  Excessive absences will affect his or her performance and grades and if too excessive may result in your child having to repeat a grade.  It is also your legal obligation to see that your child is in school; the Bradley County Court system has become much more aggressive the last two years regarding truancy cases.  By state law, we have to report a student to the Director's office after five unexcused absences; at that point, the court may become involved.  Please insist that your child be here unless it is absolutely necessary for him/her to miss.  The following procedures should be followed relative to absences:
  1. If your child misses a school day, please send a written note or doctor's slip in the day that he/she returns, giving the reason for the child's absence.  Work missed for excused absences can be made up.  According to Bradley County Board of Education policy, absences may be excused for the following reasons:
    • Child's personal illness
    • Illness in the family requiring temporary help from the child
    • Death in the family
    • Special religious holidays regularly observed by persons of their faith
    • Doctor's appointment
    • Others at the discretion of the principal
  2. If a child misses five or more days without adequate excuse, his/her name will be reported to the Director's office; this is what Board policy and now State law requires the principal to do.  According to Board policy, "unauthorized absence from school is considered truancy and will be treated as such.  Disciplinary action shall be taken in such cases.  The name of any student who has committed five unexcused absences in a given school year shall be submitted to the attendance teacher.  The attendance teacher will pursue the available means to persuade or compel the student's return to regular attendance including a School Board hearing or an appearance in courts."
  3. Students who arrive late (after 7:45) must come to the office to receive a late admit slip.  An adult must come into the office to sign the child in.  I know that sometimes students or parents run late.  However, keep in mind that late students regularly miss much class time when totals are added up, and if excessive, tardiness may begin to affect grades.  In addition to work missed, students who come in late disturb classes and create record-keeping problems and changes for classroom teachers, office personnel, and cafeteria workers;  all three areas must match in attendance and lunch records.  Please cooperate with us in being on time.
  4. Once a student arrives on campus, he or she will be permitted to leave only if an authorized parent or designated person (in writing, signed by parent) comes to the office to check him/her out.  If you have custody and the other natural parent cannot pick up his/her child, we must have a copy of a court order on file that instructs us not to let the other parent have access to your child; otherwise, a parent, having custody or not, can pick up his/her child.  Please help us in this matter; we will do what we can to protect your child, but we will not get in the middle of family disputes.
  5. All students who have perfect attendance will receive an award certificate at the end of the year.  Check-in and check-out time for perfect attendance will be 11:15.

 

Materials Fees
     Instructional material fees are set by the Board of Education and will remain at $30.00 for this year.  This also applies to those who register late.  Please make check payable to Taylor School.  This is due during the first two weeks of school.
 

Transportation
     Bradley County provides bus transportation for students residing within zoned areas of schools.  In order for the driver to safely transport students, those students must conduct themselves in an orderly fashion while they are on the bus.  When a student's behavior threatens the safety of other students or distracts the driver or when a student is in repeated violation of existing transportation policies, he/she may be suspended from riding the bus.  Please stress to your child that the bus trip is not a time for play or distracting the driver and that he/she must do what the driver instructs.  A child that destroys or damages bus seats or other school equipment will be required to pay for damages. 

     A student must bring a note from his/her parent in order to be let off at a stop other than his/her own.  Also, if you live within walking distance of the school and wish your child to walk home, please send a signed note to the office authorizing us to let your child walk or ride a bicycle.

     The gym will be open at 7:00 for students and will begin the time when students are monitored.  The procedure for early morning drip-off is to drive around the road that circles the school.  Children must be dropped off at the back of the gym.  There will be teachers on duty with the back gym door open at 7:00 a.m. to assist your children.  Please do not drop off in the front circle.  All children must come into the gym upon arrival.  At 7:05 one teacher will walk the students eating breakfast over to the cafeteria.  Those not wishing to eat breakfast will stay in the gym with the other teacher on duty.

     If you need to pick up your child during the day, please park at the front in the visitor parking, come into the office and sign your child out.  Absolutely no one is allowed to go directly to the classrooms without clearance from the office.

 

Breakfast and Lunch
     A nutritious breakfast and lunch is available each day at Taylor School.  Breakfast will be served from 7:00 until 7:35 each morning.  The following prices will be in effect:

Full-price breakfast:                 $1.05

Reduced - price breakfast:           .30

Milk (extra):                               .35

Full-price lunch:                      $1.75

Reduced-price lunch:                  .40

Visitors lunch                         $3.00

     Hot lunches are excellent and we urge all students to participate.  Make all checks payable to Taylor School; if you have two or more children in school, please write separate checks for each.  Lunch and breakfast may be paid for daily or preferably weekly; school board policy says that students may charge no more than three days.  Free and reduced lunch applicants will be approved or disapproved during the first two weeks of school; however, if your circumstances change during the year, applications can be submitted at that time.  Milk other than that which comes with the tray must be paid for daily and cannot be prepaid.  This means that the child must bring money each day for any extra milk he/she will buy.  Please do not send drinks or other items in glass containers.  Children who owe money for breakfast or lunch will not be permitted to buy extra food or ice cream until their bill is paid.  We will take breakfast and lunch payments as the student goes through the breakfast line.  If a student does not eat breakfast, he/she needs to come through the cafeteria in the morning to pay for their meals.  This will help reduce teacher work load at the beginning of the day and classes can get started quicker.  Any other money needs to be paid to the student's teacher.
 

Report Cards
     Report cards are issued six times during the school year.  You may receive more reports if your child has an academic deficiency and the teacher feels as if a conference would help.  In addition, teachers normally send a packet of materials and grade reports home each Friday.  Look for these and check your child's progress so that you get not surprises when grade cards are issued.  If you wish to meet with your child's teacher or other school personnel, please call the school in order to make an appointment; parent-requested conferences are normally held after 2:45.

The grading scale is as follows:

Grade K

Grades 1-5

+ Mastered

A = 93-100

- Not Mastered

B = 85-92

S = Satisfactory

C= 75-84

N = Needs Improvement

D = 70-74

 

F = 69 or below

School Hours

7:00 A.M.      Gym opens to receive students.

7:05 A.M.      Cafeteria serves breakfast

7:45 A.M.      Students report to class; school begins.

2:45 P.M.      School dismisses

2:45 P.M.      Buses leave campus

2:50 P.M.      Car riders leave campus

Dress Code
     Students will be expected to keep themselves well groomed and neatly dressed at all times.  Shorts of appropriate length and fit will be allowed; however, students will not be allowed to wear tight biking shorts in grades 4-5.  Top garments (blouse or shirt) must meet or overlap the bottom garment -- no halter tops, no bare midriffs or stomachs showing.  Students in grades 4-5 will not be allowed to wear tank tops.  Shirts advertising alcoholic beverages or tobacco items or those with obscene or suggestive printing on them will not be permitted.  Body piercing jewelry will be limited to earrings.  Tennis shoes are required for PE and all other gym activities.  Hats are to be worn outside except for special events.  There will also be no bandanas worn in the classroom.
 

Student Code of Conduct
     One of the most important lessons that education should teach is discipline.  Although it does not appear as a subject, it underlies the whole educational structure.  Without effective discipline, the classroom does not and cannot operate effectively and efficiently.  We need you as parents to support our efforts to establish within the classroom an atmosphere that is conducive to learning.  Please take time to discuss with your child the importance of the following code of conduct:
  1. Students will attend school regularly and will be on time.
  2. Students will be respectful and courteous to teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and other adults and students on campus and buses.
  3. Students will walk quietly in the hallways and on the right side of the hall.
  4. Students will be respectful of each individual's rights and will refrain from fighting and other disruptive behavior.
  5. Students will leave toys, radios, tape recorders, boom boxes, knives, and other items of similar nature at home.
  6. Students will refrain from using or possessing tobacco products, alcohol, drugs, or chewing gum on the school campus or school buses.
  7. Students will observe all classroom, playground, cafeteria, and bus-duty rules, as well as adopted Bradley County School Board rules.

 

School Bus Riders Code of Conduct
     Each school year sees numerous school bus related accidents; most of these occur as a result of students who are careless or who are disobeying the rules.  Help us to see that your child is not one of those this year by going over the following rules for riding a bus:
  1. Get to the bus stop on time.  Leaving the house early may prevent rushing into an accident.
  2. Don't wait on the street; give the bus room to pull over.
  3. Use the handrail when boarding and leaving the bus.
  4. Take your seat quickly.  If you're not sitting down when the bus starts up, it could cause you to fall.
  5. Keep the aisle clear.  Don't block it with books, lunch boxes, musical instruments, or anything else.
  6. Get permission before opening windows.  Never put your head, hands, or arms out of the window.
  7. Don't throw things -- in the bus or out of the bus.  Horseplay or throwing objects could distract the drive and cause an accident.
  8. Be careful leaving the bus; if you must cross the road before the bus pulls away, cross at least ten feet in front of the bus so the driver can see you.
  9. Every year some students tear or cut seats in a bus.  If your child intentionally does this, he/she must pay for the repairs.
  10. Always obey the bus driver.  The school bus is like a classroom on wheels.  Respect your driver as you respect your teachers.

 

Bus Duty Code of Conduct
  1. Obey and respect directions of the bus duty teacher.
  2. No yelling, excessive noise, wrestling, or playing.
  3. Remain in your seat and grade section unless you have permission from the bus duty teacher to move or to leave your seat.
  4. Enter the gym as soon as you leave your ride (bus or car) or as soon as you are through with breakfast.
  5. Keep all textbooks and other possessions with you in your class section.

The bell will ring at 7:40 for students to be picked up by teachers.  No students will be allowed to go into their classrooms or into any areas other than the cafeteria or gym before teachers pick their classes up from the gym.  Please help us in this matter, even if parents want to walk younger children into the building.  This morning time represents some of the teachers' planning time for the day, so they are busy preparing for class and perhaps running back and forth to the office; therefore, we do not need students in the rooms during that time.
 

Inappropriate Items
     Items such as skateboards, beepers, computer games, tape/CD players, radios, cameras, trading cards, toys, laser pointers, etc. are not necessary to the instructional program and may be disruptive and therefore should be left at home.  If these items or others not essential to the educational process are brought to school, they will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian who comes to pick them up.
 

Weapons and Threats
     Threats to students or staff will be taken seriously and will not be tolerated.  This includes harassment of younger students by older students at school, on the bus or bus stops, or any school-related function.  No type of gun (even play) or knife can be brought on school campus and could be considered a weapon; this could lead to a zero-tolerance violation and could be grounds for up to a year suspension.

     Taylor Elementary School recognizes violence as any inappropriate word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person's body, self-worth, or things.  We also recognize bullying as a type of violence that occurs when someone uses his or her power unfairly and repeatedly to hurt someone else.  To make our school violence-free and safe from bullying, we pledge:  not to tolerate bullying and strictly enforce rules against bullying, and to empower students to report bullying, and to empower students to report bullying behavior and to treat one another with respect.

 

Zero Tolerance
     In order to ensure a safe and secure learning environment, the following offenses will not be tolerated.  A student cannot bring firearms or weapons, cannot possess drugs, and cannot commit battery against a school employee or a school resource officer.  A student who commits one of the above offenses can be expelled for a period of one calendar year.  Only the Director of Schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion.
 

Lost and Found
     A "lost and found" is located near the office and in the gym.  Students and/or parents should check periodically or if something is missing.  Coats, workbooks, notebooks, and other items should be labeled with student name.  Items not claimed will be disposed of after a reasonable length of time.
 

Medicines
     If a student is required to take medication during school hours and the parent cannot come to the school to administer the medicine, then someone in the office will give medicine under the following guidelines:
  • The parent/legal guardian is required to deliver to the school the medication and sign a district medication form.  All medication must be in the original prescription container and labeled with the following typed information:
    • Student's name
    • Name of medication
    • Time(s) to be administered
    • Dosage
    • Strength
    • Directions for use
    • Approximate duration of use
    • Physician's name
    • Date
    • Pharmacy name, address, phone number
  • A non-prescription (over the counter) medication must also be accompanied by the medication form and in the original container for the medication.  The parent must provide the same type information as that of the prescription drugs (dates, times, dosage, etc.).
  • The office will keep a log of the medication administered; all medication will be kep in the office in a secure area.  Any changes in medication must be accompanied by a new form and a new label indicating the changes.  A faxed or hard copy physician's order to change the administration of a drug may also be accepted (Fax number 478-8853).
  • School personnel and employees cannot be responsible for the adequacy of prescribed medications or medical treatments recommended by physicians or related medical professionals and/or supplied by pharmacist or other sources outside of the school and, therefore, will assume no responsibility for the effects of such medications or treatments upon students.

 

Textbooks
     Students are expected to take good care of textbooks and library books.  Textbooks are furnished and students assume full responsibility for the care of books lent to them.  Books are issued by the teacher and must be returned to that teacher at the completion of the school year or withdrawal from school.  If a textbook is lost, it must be paid for before another book is issued to the student.  If books are damaged, a damage charge is required depending on the degree of damage and the condition of the book when it was issued.  If payment is not made by the end of the school year, then, according to state law, grade cards can be withheld.
 

Volunteers
     One of the best ways to help your child is to become a volunteer.  Taylor School has a Volunteer Program and will assist you in understanding our program and methods of working with the students.  There are guidelines that have been developed and you must agree to work within those guidelines in order to be a volunteer.
 

Withdrawals
     Students needing to withdraw from school must have a parent/guardian report to the office and receive a transfer form that must be signed by the teacher and the principal.  These signatures indicate clearance with regard to textbooks, library books, other school equipment, and debts.
 

Miscellaneous Procedures
Severe Weather - Please listen to the radio or TV to get news of school closings.

Disaster Policy - Taylor School in conjunction with Bradley County Schools and the Bradley County Sheriff's Office have implemented a comprehensive disaster plan which is on file in the principal's office.

Smoke Free - All Bradley County Schools, including Taylor Elementary are smoke free.  No tobacco product of any kind will be allowed on campus.

Searches - Anyone and their vehicle on school grounds are subject to search by school officials.

Field Trips - Field trips must have an educational purpose.  We appreciate parents going as chaperones.  We ask that no younger siblings go on the field trip.

Ball Teams/Cheerleading - Activities are sponsored and controlled by the Bradley County Recreation Department.  Concerns or questions should be addressed to 476-0582.