We ask that ALL students follow five basic rules:

1. Show respect for others and their possessions.
2. Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
3. Use acceptable language.
4. Follow directions.
5. Do not prevent the teacher from teaching, or other students from learning.

Additionally:

1. No chewing gum.
2. No tobacco products or other harmful substances.
3. Hats should not be worn in school, except on special days when approval is given.
4. No running in the building.

Classroom teachers discuss individual class rules and consequences at the beginning of the school year. These are posted in the classroom.

Regular attendance is important for student progress. Our school day begins at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 3:10 p.m. Children not in attendance a minimum of 3 hours and 17 minutes will be counted absent for the entire day. Students will be permitted to enter the building at 7:45 a.m. through the doors on Shirley Drive if they are eating breakfast in the cafeteria. All other students should not enter the building until the bell rings at 8:00 a.m. Bus riders and walkers will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. to help reduce the traffic problems around the school.

An extended day program is offered through the YMCA for children who require supervision from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. and from 3:10 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Please see the section on Extended Day Child Care.

If a child leaves school during regular school hours for any reason, a parent/legal guardian must sign for the child in the office. All parents must enter at the front door during the regular school day and report directly to the office, and office personnel will call the classroom to get the student.

Absences are classified as excused or unexcused. Conditions for excused absences include:

1. A child's personal illness.
2. Illness in the family requiring the child to be at home for assistance.
3. Death in the family.
4. Religious holiday.
5. Required court appearance.
6. Approved school related activities.
7. Cultural Leave.

Absences for family/cultural activities will be excused if these absences do not exceed a maximum of five days per school year. A request must be filed with the principal before the activity. A request will not be approved after the fact. A request must be in writing by the parent or legal guardian on the Cultural Leave Form provided by the school system. No other relative can complete this form. The forms can be picked up at the school's office, and the make-up work is the responsibility of the student and the parent.

All other absences not meeting these conditions will be considered unexcused.

The parent or legal guardian must inform the school if their child is absent. You may call the school anytime at 652-9292 and leave a message on the voice mail after hours regarding why your child is absent. Please include your child's name, grade, teacher, and reason for the absence when you call. If the parent fails to call the school, the school may call to check on the child.

Excessive absences and/or tardies will be reviewed regularly by school personnel. Students with excessive absences may be required to present doctors' excuses for all absences.  This issue could be grounds for denying transfer or tuition requests.

In all cases of an absence, the make-up work is the responsibility of the student and the parent. If the absence is an unexcused absence, the make-up work will be credited at 80% of its value.

The Bristol Tennessee School System will be stressing student attendance throughout the school year. All students are expected to be in school each day, unless an illness makes it impossible for them to attend. All appointments should be scheduled for after school hours, if possible. A record will be kept of all tardies and early withdrawals for attendance purposes. Parents should refrain from signing their child out early, except for medical reasons, or another approved reason.

When a student becomes ill at school, he or she is sent to the clinic and office personnel or the school nurse will examine the child. A temperature of 100 degrees or more is an indication of a possible illness and parents will be asked to pick up their child from the school. Your child should be free of fever 24 hours before returning to school.

The school does not provide medications and no medications will be given to a child without written permission from the parent. Please see the section on medications.  See appendix for more school health information.

Appendix

Bristol Tennessee City Schools

Student Health Services

Medication Policy

Prescription and Non Prescription Medication

If a student must have medication of any type given during school hours, including over-the-counter drugs, a parent will need to:

1)     Bring the medication in the original container.  Medication in baggies, envelopes or foil will not be accepted.

2)     A Medication Form, obtained from the school must be completed with the parent signature.  Prescription medication forms must be signed by the prescribing physician.

3)     Any medication not picked up at the end of the school year will be discarded.

If parents choose to not have their child’s medications dispensed during school hours by school staff they may:

1) Come to the school and give the medication to their child at the appropriate time(s).

2)  Discuss with their doctor and alternative schedule for administering medication (i.e., outside of school hours).  If medication is ordered three times a day, it should be given before school, after school, and at bedtime unless the doctor states otherwise.

As Needed Medication

Parents may choose to bring “as needed medications” in the original container (i.e., Ibuprofen, cough drops, Mylanta) to be kept in the school clinic throughout the school year. Parents must indicate the use and dose for each provided medication on the Medication Form. The school nurse or designee will dispense the medications as needed by the student and record on a medication log.  Parents of younger children will be notified of any as needed medication taken at school via a letter from the school nurse.

Emergency Medication and Diabetic Supplies

According to Tennessee State Laws, students may carry on their person, rescue medications such as inhalers, epinephrine injections and glucagon.  Diabetic supplies such as insulin, glucometer, lancets and needles may also be kept with the student.  However, a Medication Form with a prescribing physician’s signature must be provided to the school. The physician will need to indicate if a student is to carry these items on their person or if it needs to be kept in the school clinic and managed by the school nurse. The student’s name should be written on all rescue medications and diabetic supplies.   

If you have question about the policy or other issues related to the administration of medication in the schools, please contact the school or school nurse.  In fairness to those responsible for giving the medication and to protect the safety of your child, THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

Health Issues

School Health Clinic:

Our school is equipped with a health clinic and staffed with a part-time licensed practical nurse (LPN).  The LPN functions under the supervision of a full-time system-wide registered nurse (RN).  The school nurse provides a standard of care in accordance with the State of Tennessee and Bristol Tennessee City Schools Board of Education.  She/he manages vision and hearing screening, responds to emergencies, provides medical procedures as needed by students, assesses student illness and provides care, contacts parents, communicates with the physician and administers medications as needed. If an injury or illness has occurred, the school nurses will asses the student and contact the parents accordingly. The school nurse does not administer medications including topical ointments, ibuprofen or cough drops unless brought from home and a medication form signed (see medication). 

Individual Health Plan (IHP):

 Any student with a medical condition needs to have an IHP.  This plan provides the school nurse and school staff with important information for managing the student’s medical needs and responding appropriately to a medical emergency.  These forms are confidential and will be shared with only the staff involved with the student.  These forms are also maintained by the school nurse and kept in a medical file in the health clinic.  IHPs are sent at the beginning of the school year to parents who have listed a medical alert with the school.  If your child has developed a new medical condition that the school is not aware of please discuss this with your school nurse and request an appropriate IHP to complete.

Medications:

School personnel cannot dispense any prescription or nonprescription medication to any student unless the medication is brought to the school by a parent in the original container. Medication will not be accepted in a baggie, envelope or foil.  A medication form must be signed by the parent. All prescription medication must have a doctor’s signature on the medication form. Students are not allowed to carry any medication on their person with the exception of emergency medications (inhalers, epi pens).  However, emergency medications must also have a doctor’s order on file with the school nurse.  If you prefer, you may come to the school and administer the medication or discuss with the ordering physician an alternate dosing schedule (i.e., outside of school hours).

Screenings:

Each year, the school nurse will conduct a vision and hearing screening.  The screenings conducted at school are screenings only and are not meant to replace a professional eye/ear exam or yearly physical.  Nonetheless, the school screening tests are carefully and accurately performed and will provide an indication of your child’s functioning at this time.  Screenings are not conducted on every grade but a select group only.  A letter will be sent home informing you of your child’s performance on the screenings.

Students should come to school dressed in a suitable manner. Students should not wear any type of clothing displaying inappropriate wording, advertisements, and/or illustrations. Students should not wear shorts or pants in a "sagging" manner (worn below the normal waistline or hips, presenting the possibility of showing the student's undergarments). The school administration has the authority to decide if clothing is in poor taste. Parents will be called to the school to bring a change of clothing if we judge that it is inappropriate. If a parent cannot be reached, the school will issue a change of clothing.  Please plan to follow the dress code for all school sponsored events (field trips, school ceremonies, dances etc.).

A more specific dress code will be implemented for students in fifth and sixth grade:

·Muscle shirts, tank tops, midriff shirts, halter tops, tube tops, and spaghetti strap tops are not appropriate in the school environment.
· Shorts must not be any shorter than the student's fingertips when the arm is fully extended.
· Skirts and dresses must not be shorter than 2 1/2 inches (width of a dollar bill) above the top of the kneecap.
· No head coverings are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, hats, scarves, sweatbands, stockings, do-rags, etc.
· No industrial chains, pet chains, collars around the neck, wrists, or waist, or chains attached to wallets.
· Shoes must be worn at all times
· No unnatural hair coloring (for example, pink, orange, green, purple, etc.) or rings in nose, naval, tongues etc are to be worn at school.

Breakfast and lunch are served daily in the cafeteria. Breakfast is served from   7:45-8:10 a.m. Students may either bring a lunch from home or buy lunch at school. Milk, juice, and ice cream treats are available for purchase. The procedures for purchasing these items vary among the classrooms.

Parents are welcome to eat with their children anytime during the year. As a consideration to the cafeteria staff, please call the cafeteria in the morning to notify them of your plans (652-9290). This will allow them to prepare enough food for all the students and adults who are eating lunch. Due to federal guidelines, food from outside sources (fast food restaurants) and carbonated drinks are not allowed in the cafeteria.

Free or reduced prices are available to students whose family income qualifies them for the program. Forms are sent home at the beginning of the year for parents to complete.

All students and staff members have cafeteria account numbers and may prepay into their account anytime. The account will be used for breakfast and lunch.

Charging of meals is discouraged; however, in case of lost or forgotten money, students may charge, but the money is expected to be repaid the following day. Three charges per student is the limit the computer will allow. Principals will receive a list of unpaid charges and assist in the collection of the money.

The cafeteria will stop accepting checks and charges during the second week in May. Students should make sure they have money in their accounts or pay with cash at this time.

THERE WILL BE A $20.00 SERVICE CHARGE FOR ANY RETURNED CHECKS.

Elementary School Meal Prices

Breakfast / Lunch
Student (regular) .75 Student (regular) $1.50
Student (reduced) .30 Student (reduced) $ .40
Adult $1.50 Adult $2.75

Milk .50 Ice Cream .50 Juice .50

Additional prices are available upon request.

Teachers will communicate their homework policies to parents and students at the beginning of the school year. Changes that occur during the year will be discussed as deemed necessary. If a student is absent:

1. Each teacher will determine the appropriate amount of work to send home. This will vary in grades K-6.

2. Homework can be sent to the office for pick up after 3:10 p.m. daily if requested by the parent or guardian. (We ask parents not to come to the classroom to request homework or expect it to be in the office ready for pick up prior to 3:10 p.m.)

3. Make-up work for family/educational leave will be given to the student when he or she returns to class.

In the event an absence is determined to be unexcused, all homework, tests, and classroom work is still expected to be made up. Credit for the work will be given based upon 80% of the earned grade.