Sheffield High School
STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK
2015 - 2016
“Continuing Royal Traditions”
4315 Sheffield Avenue
Memphis, TN 38118
Phone 901-416-2370
Fax 901-416-2407
Mr. Anthony Frigo, Principal
Our Vision
Sheffield High School will become a top-ranked learning community that graduates students who are productive, competent, and possess essential technological skills, and who are prepared to enter a competitive global workforce, college, or technical/trade school.
Our Mission
The mission of Sheffield High School is to ensure that all students will possess the knowledge and skills defined by state standards for high schools and achieve academic proficiency as measured by appropriate state standards, thereby providing students with the academic, financial, social, life, and career skills necessary to succeed in a global society.
Our Beliefs
Beliefs, which drive our mission and vision:
· Data-driven decision-making includes input from our parents, students, school staff, and the community. The education of our students must be a collaborative effort that is achieved through a partnership of mutual respect.
· Teachers, administrators, and support staff are compassionate, consistent, and competent, therefore, providing students with a safe environment conducive to learning.
· Data analysis along with ongoing professional development for school staff, technology, and the use of research-based teaching strategies allows our teachers to produce rigorous and engaging work for all students.
· Technology is an integral part of daily instruction in order to increase student interest in the learning process.
· School wide rules, policies, and procedures help foster a positive learning environment and focus on student achievement. Students are accountable for their actions and learning.
· Given appropriate work, support, and time, all students who put forth effort can meet the standards required by Shelby County Schools, the state of Tennessee, and No Child Left Behind.
· Our school provides a learning environment that accommodates students of all backgrounds, learning styles, ability levels and unique needs with the opportunity to succeed.
· Learning is a life-long process that occurs both inside and outside of the classroom.
· Graduation requirements are clearly communicated to school staff, parents, students and the community in order to equip every student with the tools necessary for success.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF STUDENTS – The building will be open at 6:50 a.m. each morning for students to enter. Student(s) arriving before 6:50 a.m. must remain outside the building. Students arriving for breakfast may enter the cafeteria at 6:50 a.m. and must remain in there until 7:05 a.m. During inclement weather, students may enter the building at 7:00 a.m. and remain in an area designated by the administration. Students should be off campus by 3:30 p.m., unless under supervision of a faculty member. Please be aware that the safety of your child is at risk each time he/she is left unsupervised before and after school. We strongly urge parents to make arrangements for timely transportation of their child(ren).
AUTOMOBILES – Students who drive to school must complete a vehicle registration form to be kept on file in the Attendance Office. A parking hangtag will be issued at the cost of $5.00. The parking hangtag must hang from the rear view mirror at all times when on the campus of Sheffield High School. Students are allowed to park ONLY in the student parking lot. After arriving on campus, students are not permitted to sit in or lounge around in their vehicles. Students that arrive after 7:30 must report to the attendance office to check-in. Reckless driving, exceeding 15 MPH, illegal parking and loud music are PROHIBITED. Parking violations will be subject to the following action:
1st Violation – Warning
2nd Violation – Parent Conference
3rd Violation – ISS
4th Violation – Revoked parking privilege for remainder of the school year
SMOKING – Smoking and the use of any other tobacco product is prohibited in the school buildings and on the grounds of all Shelby County Schools at all times, including but not limited to school activities, athletic games, dances, etc. Violation of this infraction will result in an out of school suspension.
LOCKERS –
All students will be given a locker.
1. Students must not give their combination to anyone else. No sharing.
2. Students assigned to a locker may NOT switch lockers without the prior approval of a teacher or administrator.
3. It is the responsibility of students to keep lockers clean and orderly. Food is not allowed in lockers.
4. All lockers are the property of the school and are assigned to students for their use for approved purposes only. Lockers are subject to be searched for inappropriate items at any time.
5. If students have cell phones or other electronic devices, they must be turned off and kept in lockers the entire school day. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
6. Students are permitted to provide locks for their lockers. SCS employees are not responsible for stolen contents in lockers.
7. Students may not check messages or have cell phones on or in their hands while at their lockers.
Locker Times
7:05 – 7:10
Before lunch during 5th period
At dismissal
ELECTRONIC DEVICES –
Cell Phones/Personal Communication Devices (SCS Policy #6024)
Cell phones should be turned OFF and KEPT in the locker during the school day.
SCS Policy states: all students are banned from possessing any type of phone or personal communication device that is turned on or in visible/audible use at any time during the regular school day. For the purpose of this policy, possession means being found in any article of clothing, purse, book bag, carry bag, or in any location on school property other than the approved storage location as written and approved by school officials. Students who wish to carry a cell phone with them to and from school must keep the device turned off and stored (e.g., kept in the student's assigned locker, automobile, or other school approved location at all times during the entire school day), unless otherwise determined by the principal. District security officials may, if they have reasonable suspicion to do so, search any cell phone brought onto any SCBE property, which includes but is not limited to parking areas. For the purposes of this policy, the school day includes the entire day from the school start time or bell that indicates the start of the school day until the final dismissal time of the school day. The District/School does not take responsibility for confiscated items and will not compensate the owner for any lost, stolen, or damaged confiscated items while in the custody of the District.
When a personal communication device/cell phone is confiscated, the following procedures will be followed.
Ø 1st Violation – Phone returned to student the following school day from 2:30 – 3:00
Ø 2nd Violation – Phone returned to parent the following school day from 2:30 – 3:00
Ø 3rd Violation – Overnight with parent conference – Phone returned at parent conference
Ø 4th Violation and thereafter – ISS/OSS
CONFISCATED ITEMS WILL NOT BE RETURNED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE - All food and beverages must be consumed in the cafeteria. The sale of any food item, except cafeteria food, MUST be AFTER school hours. At no time will a student be allowed to sell any item for personal gain. Violators’ items will be confiscated and disposal is determined by administration.
DRESS CODE (SCS POLICY #6021)
§ Students are allowed to wear black, white or gold shirts.
§ Shirts must be have a collar, with the exception of school spirit t-shirts (worn on specified days) and may be any of these colors.
§ Undergarments (t-shirts) worn under the uniform shirt must be black or white.
§ Males and Female students must wear, navy, black or tan (khaki) pants, capris, cargo, dress or cropped pants.
§ Pants with elastic bottoms are not part of the uniform.
§ Male students must wear pants on waist with a belt if the pants have belt loops.
§ Sagging pants will not be tolerated.
§ Revealing clothing will not be tolerated.
§ Female students must wear appropriate blouses or shirts that are modest, and not revealing. See-through blouses, see-through skirts, midriffs, tights, leggings, jeggings, denim material, jeans of any color, mini-skirts, mini-dresses, halters, and tube tops are not included in the uniform policy regardless of where purchased. Tights, leggings, jeggings, WITH SPANDEX MATERIAL are not pants.
§ All t-shirts or undergarments must be black or white.
§ Sandals such as slides or flip-flops are not part of the uniform policy, and will not tolerated.
§ Violators of the uniform policy are subject to progressive discipline.
PROGRESS REPORT – Progress reports will be issued at the mid-term of each nine-week grading period. A copy of the progress report will be kept on file in the Guidance Office.
CAFETERIA – All students must eat lunch in the cafeteria. All students are expected to remain in the cafeteria during their lunch period unless directed by administration. You must have written permission from the administration or a teacher in order to leave the cafeteria area during lunch. Each student is expected to clean his or her own table. Trash receptacles are available throughout the cafeteria. Students may purchase items in the cafeteria during lunch or they may bring their lunch from home. Per SCS nutrition policy, no other outside food may be brought into the cafeteria.
CHANGING CLASSES – Students are allowed five (5) minutes after the ringing of the bell to pass to their next class. Tardies to class will interrupt academic progress and could result in progressive disciplinary action. Students must be inside the classroom before the tardy bell rings.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE – SCS views truancy as a community problem, therefore we will use intervention and collaboration in addressing this problem. One to two absences will result in a parent phone call. Three to four absences will result in a mandatory parent conference with administration. Five absences will result in a SART meeting. Ten absences will result in being reported to SCS Truancy Office and mandatory attendance at a District-wide SARB meeting. Fifteen absences will result in a referral to Juvenile Court and the District Attorney’s Office. Please refer to SCS Board of Education policy #6.200.
CLASS ATTENDANCE – Students are expected to attend class as scheduled. Unexcused absences will affect a student’s course grade and conduct. Suspensions are unexcused absences. Work missed for excused or unexcused absences may be made up within one (1) week after return to school. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the teacher concerning make-up work.
TARDY TO SCHOOL - Students are expected to report to school and be in their homeroom or first academic class by 7:15 a.m. daily. Students are considered tardy to homeroom or their first academic class after 7: 15 a.m. A parent must accompany students checking in after 7:30 a.m. Students checking in after 7:30 a.m. without a parent will receive a parent conference. After receiving a parent conference, an overnight suspension, or an administrative conference, the child will be assigned to ISS or detention if the parent or legal guardian does not meet with administration. Late check-ins are considered unexcused with the exception of formal documentation of the following: doctor, dentist, court, death in the immediate family or other circumstances at the discretion of the administration.
TARDY TO CLASS – In order to receive the full benefit of instructional time, students must consistently arrive to class on time. Students have five minutes to travel from one class to the next.
Ø On the 3rd tardy, a call will be made to the parent.
Ø On the 6th tardy, student will be placed on the No Participation List.
Ø On the 9th tardy, student will be referred to the office.
LEAVING SCHOOL – Students leaving school for any reason during the school day must be checked out
through the attendance office prior to 1:45 p.m. by a parent or guardian of record, unless the student is enrolled in Work-Based Learning and is leaving during the last period of the day. Work-based learning must be approved by the Principal. Doctor and dental appointments require students to bring notes to the attendance office prior to attending class the next day. Doctor’s name should be on the note, along with the parent/guardian’s signature and telephone number. School personnel may confirm appointments. Students will be called from his/her class when parent or guardian of record arrives. Upon return, students must show dismissal slips for admission to classes missed. Students are responsible for obtaining and completing work missed in these situations. Parents/Guardians must come to the Main office to have their child dismissed. Dismissals will not be done via telephone or email.
LEAVING CAMPUS FOR LUNCH – Students are not permitted to leave campus for lunch. Students leaving campus without permission will receive disciplinary actions, subject to an out of school suspension.
WITHDRAWAL OF STUDENTS – If a student relocates out of Sheffield’s district and must withdraw from Sheffield High School, the proper paperwork must be completed in the Attendance Office. All paperwork must be completed and submitted before the withdrawal is deemed official.
RECEIVING CALLS– The office will not call students from class to answer the telephone. Only emergency messages will be delivered. Parents are urged to limit calls to those of an emergency nature. Students should secure transportation home before arriving to school.
HALLS – With the exception of passing classes, students must have a hall pass with the signature of their teacher indicating the reason for being out of class. Students in the hall without a signed hall pass will be considered as cutting class and will receive the penalty associated with class cutting.
CAMPUS VISITATIONS – All visitors must check in with the main office upon their arrival on campus to obtain a visitor’s badge. Anyone not checking in could be considered trespassing and subject to being arrested.
STUDENT DELIVERIES – Delivery of non-school related materials to students is prohibited; i.e., flowers, balloons, etc. Any approved delivery must be delivered to the main office.