School Handbook

Arrival

Students’ hours are from 8:05 AM to 3:05 PM, and teachers’ hours are from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM.  The building opens to students at 7:30 AM.  At this time, students will be supervised by on-duty teachers, administrators, and a school resource officer. Students entering the building between 7:30 and 8:00 AM, who wish to eat breakfast, must enter the building at the gym doors and remain in the cafeteria until 8:00 AM (grades K-8). Students not wishing to eat breakfast and who are entering the building between 7:30 and 8:00 AM should enter as follows: Grades 4-8 Bell entrance, grades 2-3 gym entrance, grades K-1 Kindergarten Circle.

Students who arrive after the 8:05 AM tardy bell must check in at the Primary Building, accompanied by their parent or guardian.

Departure

Pick-up locations for students in grades 1st – 8th are the “Bell” or the gym. Students will be instructed on which spot they are to report to at the beginning of the year. On duty teachers, administration, and a school resource officer will provide supervision from 3:05-3:30 PM.  The campus will be closed to students at 3:30 PM unless they are attending an after-school program. Parents will be contacted if their children remain at school unsupervised after the 3:30 PM closing.  This policy includes those students who remain on the premises for late basketball practice. Kindergarten dismisses at 2 PM and teachers will communicate the pick-up locations with parents

Students who walk to and from school must have a permission form on file in the Main Office, and they must leave the campus immediately upon dismissal at 3:05pm. Students who walk to and from school and abuse this freedom by being disruptive or remaining on campus after dismissal may have this privilege revoked.

TRAFFIC FLOW

Students are counted tardy after 8:05 AM and are counted as early dismissal any time before 3:05 PM. All students arriving tardy to school should sign in with receptionist in the Primary Building. Upon signing in or out, parent will receive a slip showing if student is excused or unexecused. This status can be adjusted once acceptable documentation is provided.

Early dismissal requires a note to the office from the parent/guardian on the morning of the dismissal.  To insure safety, parents/guardians must come to the Primary Building to sign children out of school. Other family members, neighbors, etc. do not have the legal right to check children out of school without filed written permission from the parent/guardian.

Tardies – Sign In

Students signing in after the 8:05am bell must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or an adult aged 18+. All students arriving after the 8:05am bell should sign in with the receptionist located in the lobby of the Primary Building. Upon signing in, the student will receive a slip showing whether the tardy is excused or unexcused.

Early Dismissals – Sign Out

On the morning of the early dismissal, the student must provide a note from his or her parent/guardian to the office. All students must be signed out with the receptionist located in the lobby of the Primary Building by an adult 18+ who is listed on the child’s Permission to Dismiss form. Upon signing out, the student will receive a slip showing whether the early dismissal is excused or unexcused.

Should a student obtain five (5) unexcused tardies in a grading period, he/she will be required to serve one hour of community service. If a student obtains more than ten (10) unexcused tardies in a semester, the student's parents will be required to meet with the attendance committee to review the tardy issue.

Students who accrue twenty (20) excused or unexcused absences in an academic year shall be subject to retention.

School will be held on a regular schedule if roads are judged safe for travel.  When school is canceled, opened one hour late, or closed early, the local and area radio and television stations will make announcements and the School Messenger system will notify parents. School and district Social Media platforms will also be used to communicate a change in schedule.

To maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, student clothing and hair should be neat, clean, modest, and respectable and not a disruptive influence within the school environment. Unless special circumstances have been discussed and approved by the administration, the following guidelines should be followed:

• Pants must be worn at the natural waistline and should not be excessively long or loose fitting; shorts and skirts should be at or below the knee.
  
• Low, revealing necklines are not permitted; midriff and lower back areas must be covered.
  
• Undergarments must not be visible (even through clothing) and no clothes made of see-through or mesh materials are permitted; all clothing with holes above the knee that reveals skin is not allowed.
  
• No article of clothing including jewelry and accessories with offensive, vulgar, or violent language or logos will be permitted.
  
• No caps, hats, visors, or other headgear will be worn unless a special day permitting those items has been approved by the administration; exceptions may be granted to individuals due to cultural requirements or special needs.
  
• Hair will not be permanently/temporarily dyed in unnatural colors or styled in a provocative or offensive manner.
  
• No body piercings, other than the ears, shall be visible, and all permanent/temporary tattoos must be covered.
  
• Pre-K-Grade 2: No backless shoes are permitted, and athletic (flat) shoes must be worn to participate in physical education activities.
  
• Grade 3-8: Shirts/tops must have sleeves and should not be excessively large or loose fitting.
  
• Leggings are permitted with tops that reach the student’s fingertips while standing with arms straight to the side. Leggings may not be made of see-through material.
  
  

Consequences for violation of the student dress code will be:

1st Offense

Parent/guardian will be called to bring the student a change of clothes. Student will receive two hours of detention.

2nd Offense

Parent/guardian will be called to bring the student a change of clothes. Student will receive four hours of detention.

3rd Offense

Parent/guardian will be called to bring the student a change of clothes. Student will receive one day of in-school suspension.

Additional Offenses

Administrators will determine appropriate consequences on a case-by-case basis for continued violations of the dress code.

Newport Grammar understands that there are times when parents/guardians need to communicate with their child via telephone, so the following usage guidelines were established by a committee of teachers.

Students shall not use cell phones or have them visible during the school hours of 7:30am and when the student exits the building. If a situation arises that requires student use of a phone, school personnel are on duty and available during the school day to offer assistance. The following disciplinary measures will be administered if a student is caught violating the cell phone policy.

1st Offense

Cell phone will be confiscated and turned into the main office, which is where the student's parent/guardian must come to retrieve it. The student will receive two hours of detention. Both parent/guardian and student will read and sign a form notifying them of the disciplinary measures for a second violation.

2nd Offense

Cell phone will be confiscated and turned into the main office, which is where the student's parent/guardian must come to retrieve it. Student will receive four hours of detention. Both parent/guardian and student will read and sign a form notifying them of the disciplinary measures for a third violation.

3rd Offense

Cell phone will be confiscated and held in the main office until both parent/guardian and student meet with the Principal to explain why policy violations continue to occur. Student will receive one day of In-School Suspension.

4th Offense

Cell phone will be confiscated and held in the main office until both parent/guardian and student meet with the Principal to explain why policy violations continue to occur. Student will receive three days of In-School Suspension.

Personal electronic devices such as CD players, digital music players, cameras, electronic games, and other such equipment may be stored in lockers, backpacks, purses, etc.; however, the use of these devices during school hours is strictly forbidden. Use or improper storage of a personal electronic device will result in its confiscation until it can be released to the student’s parent/guardian. Student violations of this policy are subject to the same disciplinary actions as described in the cell phone policy. Please note that Newport Grammar is not responsible for lost, stolen, or misplaced items.

Students should also refrain from bringing the following personal items to school (unless written permission has been given by an administrator or teacher):

• Chewing Gum
  
• Trading Cards (sports or games)
  
• Skateboards
  
• Other unnecessary valuables or equipment
  
  

Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in confiscation of the prohibited personal items. Parents/guardians will be contacted to recover the item(s) and discuss consequences.

***Students that are enrolled at NGS are not permitted to attend a sibling’s field trip. ***

Students should exercise good manners, patiently wait in line, walk to assigned tables, remain seated, and talk quietly. Students may not bring canned or bottled drinks to the cafeteria, and no food in fast-food wrappers is allowed. Students are expected to tidy up their eating area before leaving and must return trays and silverware to the proper location.

Students are allowed to charge up to $7.50 and will be given notice when their account has reached minus that amount. At that time, the system will freeze their account. The student must then report to the Principal’s office before coming to the cafeteria again to make arrangements for payment of their lunch for that day and to call their parents asking them to pay their charges and to deposit money into their account. If charges remain unpaid, report cards, including end of year grades, will be held until charges are paid.

Breakfast and lunch are served in the school’s main cafeteria. Breakfast is served from 7:30-7:55am. Students may pay for lunches daily or deposit money into their computerized accounts. Students are encouraged to use the account system and to make deposits on Mondays between 7:30-8:00am. Breakfast will not be served on delayed opening days.

Students will receive an application for free and reduced price meals at the beginning of each school year, and those individuals falling within the guidelines accompanying the application may apply to receive this benefit. All information regarding these applications is confidential.

Zero Tolerance must be a serious expression of intent to harm or assault by a "reasonable person" who should have foreseen that actions were harmful. Age, surrounding circumstances, teacher input, severity of the act, and intent of the action will be considered. Students shall not make verbal threats, nor shall they commit battery (assault), bully, or commit any violent or sexual act against other students or school staff. Students may not possess or handle drugs, nor shall they possess, handle, use, or attempt to use any dangerous weapon in school buildings or on school grounds at any time, on any school-sponsored trip, or at any school event. Students must not use any instruments such as pencils, scissors, razors, or compasses in such a way as to threaten or actually cause harm.

Such acts may result in assignment to alternative school or suspension by the administration. Parents and law officials will be notified as required by the legal system. If a student is found to be guilty after an investigation, appropriate action, such as a one-year expulsion, may be taken. A student who brings a firearm to school will be referred to the juvenile delinquency system.

To: Parents and Staff
RE: Annual asbestos management plan notice
From: Sandra W. Burchette, Director of Schools

This is to inform you of the Newport City Schools asbestos management plan. It has been determined by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that asbestos is a potential health hazard, and precautions should be taken to avoid disturbing any asbestos containing materials.

As required, our building was initially inspected for asbestos on 5-3-17. The AHERA law requires that a visual surveillance of asbestos areas be completed every six months, and a reinspection conducted every three years. Any evidence of disturbance or change in condition will be documented in the Management Plan as required.

The Inspection/Management Plan is available for public view in the Director’s Office. Should you wish to review the plan, please call to make an appointment during regular school hours.

Any concerns related to asbestos containing materials should be directed to Darryl Ownby, 301 College Street, Newport Tennessee. 423-625-0686.

Regards,

Sandra W. Burchette
Director of Schools

The PPRA affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors (“eligible students”) certain rights regarding or conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to the following:

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED):

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent.
  
• Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family.
  
• Sexual behavior or attitudes.
  
• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
  
• Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships.
  
• Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers.
  
• Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents.
  
• Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
  
  

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:

• Any protected information survey regardless of funding.
  
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screening, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required by State Law.
  
• Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
  
  

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:

• Protected information surveys of students.
  
• Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.
  
• Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
  
  

The Newport City School System has developed and adopted policies regarding these rights, as well as, arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of sales, or other distribution purposes. The Newport City School System will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. The Newport City School System will also directly notify parents and eligible students as least annually at the start of each school year of the specific or approximate dates of the following activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in the following:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distributions.
  
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or part by the U.S. Department of Education.
  
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
  
  

Parents/guardians or eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue NW
Washington, DC

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law, requires that Newport City Schools, with exceptions, obtain a parent’s/guardian’s written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s educational records. However, Newport City Schools, with exceptions, may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the System to the contrary in accordance with System procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the Newport City School system to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain publications. Examples include the following:

• A playbill, showing the student’s role in a drama production.
  
• The annual yearbook.
  
• Honor roll or other recognition lists.
  
• Graduation programs.
  
• Sports activity sheets, such as showing weight and height of team members for particular sports.
  
  

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories—names, addresses, and telephone listings—unless parents have advised LEA that they do not want their child’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.*

If you do not wish for Newport City Schools to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing. Newport City Schools has designated the following information as directory information: student’s name, address, telephone listing, electronic mail address, photograph, date of birth, place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, degrees, honors, and awards received, and the most recent educational agency or institution attended.

* These laws are: Section 9528 of the ESEA (20 U.S. C. 7908) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110), the education bill, and 10 U.S.C. 503, as amended by section 544, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (P. L. 107-107), the legislation that provided funding for the Nation’s armed forces.