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Student Handbook

STUDENT HANDBOOK

WELCOME TO FORKS RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Welcome to Forks River Elementary School! This booklet has been prepared to help students and parents become acquainted with our policies and procedures. We ask that you and your parents read it carefully and keep it for easy reference during the school year.

Message from Principal

On behalf of the entire staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you and your child to Forks River Elementary School. It is always exciting to begin another school year. My goal is for every student to have a safe, happy, and productive school year. Education is a joint effort between school and family. Working together; we will be able to reach this goal.

It is an honor to be your child's principal. Please feel free to call or schedule an appointment with me if you have any concerns. I am here to help you in any way that I can.

Sincerely,

Leslie M. Pope, Principal

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We ask that you review the Student Handbook with your child. Please complete the information below after your review.

My child, __________________________________________, and I have reviewed, understand, and agree to attend school daily under the conditions of this Student Handbook.

Student Signature

Parent/Guardian Signature

Date

Mission Statement

The mission of Forks River School is to provide a safe, encouraging, and caring climate that creates a foundation for lifelong learning for all students to accomplish their highest level of academic achievement and character development each day by Focusing on Reaching for Success.

Vision

Forks River School, in partnership with its community and parents, will develop students who have a learner's heart, are honorable in speech and conduct, and effective citizens with compassion for our world.

Beliefs

FRS feels that a quality education should be provided to ALL students. During the process of developing our beliefs, we utilized research-based information and data to drive decisions and promote the use of the shared decision making process. We hold high expectations for all students. The beliefs align policies and procedures to maintain a focus on achieving the goals for student learning. Finally, we strive to achieve proficiency and beyond for all students linking together our beliefs, mission, and vision.

  • We believe that all students, as a faculty and staff, should enjoy a learning environment that is free from violence and hazardous situations while also fostering collaboration among staff and stakeholders promoting a high performance learning culture.
  • We believe that instruction should utilize research-based information and data to drive decisions to include activities that involve students in social, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth while offering a wide variety of extracurricular activities.
  • We believe students should apply their abilities to every learning situation and that we, as educators, should provide every tool and resource available to assess the most positive and productive result.
  • We believe that the school is, first and foremost, established to provide opportunities for the growth and development of the students' self-esteem, self-confidence, decision making ability, and integrity as they become citizens of our communities.
  • We believe a child's education is the joint responsibility of the school, the family, and the community to enforce all policies and procedures in a fair and productive way while effectively communicating both internally and externally with all parties involved.
  • We hold high expectations for all students on a daily basis in all areas of the curriculum and extracurricular activities providing a clear purpose and direction for student success.

School Hours

School is in session from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Car riders are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. Students may not arrive before 7:20 a.m. Teachers will not be responsible for students before 7:20 a.m.

Attendance

The Smith County School Board and the State of Tennessee believe that regular attendance in school accompanied by the responsibility to study and participate in school activities is essential to the learning process. Students are expected to arrive at school promptly each day.

Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal; where applicable. Excused absences shall include:

  1. Personal illness (a doctor's statement is preferred).
  2. Illness of immediate family.
  3. Death in the family.
  4. Subpoenaed court appearance.

A student shall be required to have a note from the parent stating the reason for the absence. Each student is allowed only 5 parent notes per school year. The student is unexcused until a note has been presented at school after any absence, a note from parents or a doctor MUST be sent to school OR the absence will be unexcused. On the first day back to school, the student must check in at the office with his/her note. All absences on the computer attendance program shall be either:

E Excused

U Unexcused

S Suspended

Students participating in school sponsored activities, whether on or off campus, shall not be counted absent. In order to qualify as "school sponsored," the activity must be school planned, school directed, and teacher supervised.

After any five (5) unexcused absences during the year, including suspensions, the student's name will appear on a truant list printed by the Board of Education. Not sending a note will result in an unexcused absence regardless for the reason of the student's absence. The student along with the parent/guardian will then be required to appear before the Truancy Board at the appointed time. The student's attendance will be monitored for the remainder of that school year and the next year. If a student receives any future unexcused absences after appearing before the truancy board, further action may be taken. Any administrative decision regarding attendance may be appealed initially to the superintendent and ultimately to the Board. The appeal shall be made in writing to the superintendent within five (5) days following the action or the report of action, whichever is later.