“Where Young
People Come First”
2006 – 2007
Director
of Schools:
Dr. Jack A. Parton
Principal:
Mr. Jayson Nave
Address:
Telephone:
865-453-0311
Fax:
865-428-2316
Web
Address:
www.sms.sevier.org
A Message from the
Administration
On
behalf of the administration and faculty at
With
student
success as our primary focus, we encourage and empower all students to
strive
for their highest academic, physical, emotional, and social potential,
preparing them for continuing levels of education, training, and civic
responsibility.
Non-Discrimination
Policy
The
Sevier
County School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex,
color,
religion, national origin, age, handicap, or veteran status in
provision of
educational opportunities, programs, activities, or employment
opportunities
and benefits. Inquiries or grievances
should be directed to Larry Stott, Title VI Coordinator at
Visitors,
upon arrival to the school, are
required to check in at the front office.
The purpose of this organization is to bring
into
closer relationship the home and the school so that parents and
teachers may
cooperate more intelligently in the training of our children. The
membership of
this organization shall consist of the people interested in pursuing
the goals
of the organization. One very important purpose of the SMS PTO is to
recruit
parent and community volunteers to help with every phase of life at
Sevierville
Middle School Teachers believe that parent-teacher communication is
very
essential in the educational process of children. Parent-Teacher
conferences
will be scheduled during the school year. Parents are encouraged to
contact the
school whenever the need arises. However, we would request that you
call the
school to schedule a conference, because our teachers' schedules do not
allow
time for drop-in conferences.
We encourage parents to visit
We will be unable to deliver messages to
students,
except in cases of an emergency. We understand that parents may feel
the need
to get in touch with students during the school day, but we cannot stop
the
instruction of the other students in the class for any reason other
than an emergency.
The nature of the emergency must be specified to a school official
before
classroom activities will be interrupted. Under normal circumstances,
emergencies exist when conditions arise that make it impossible or
impractical
to delay the message later. After school
arrangements, meeting places, pick-up times, etc. should be made
between the
child and the parent before the student arrives at school in the morning.
Office
phones
at SMS are for school business purposes only. Students will not be
permitted to
make phone calls during the school day unless it is an emergency. Also,
students will not be called to the office to receive incoming phone
calls.
Visitors,
upon arrival to the school, are required to check in with the front
office.
All
students
will receive instruction in language arts, mathematics, social studies,
science, physical education, art, music, computer technology, library
and
guidance. Special courses include band, accelerated mathematics, and
Algebra 1.
The school-wide instructional program is enhanced through a full
inclusion
program designed to serve special education populations (e.g. learning
disabilities, gifted, Comprehensive Developmental Classroom and Social
Developmental Classroom) in the least restrictive environment where all
students can benefit. Physical Education is a required portion of a
well-balanced educational program. Students are expected to participate
in all
PE activities unless excused by a doctor’s note. Seventh and eighth
grade
students are expected to dress out in the appropriate clothing and
shoes.
Students not dressing out will be given a written assignment to be
completed
during class time. Band is an elective subject offered to students in
grades
six through eight. Enrollment is for the full year. Each student will
provide
his own instrument. If a lease-purchase agreement is desired, please
contact
one of the band instructors for details.
Guidance
Guidance
is
an integral part of the total middle school program. The primary
function is to
provide a comprehensive guidance program for all students and to
specifically
provide activities to meet the needs of the individual student. The
counselor
will be available to meet with teachers, students, and parents to
provide
support and enhance the educational opportunities for the student.
The SMS Library is located in the center of
the
academic wing of our building. It is a fully equipped facility designed
to
support and expand the academic programs while also providing enjoyable
recreational reading material for all students. The library is
available for
both individual student research and class research projects. Books may
be
checked out on a two-week basis. Students must have a library pass from
the
teacher if coming without a class. If a library book is lost or
damaged, the
student who checked it out is responsible for paying for it. Grade cards will not be issued nor
cumulative records sent to a new destination until all student
obligations are
cleared.
P.R.I.D.E.
Today’s student is overwhelmed by the complexities of living in a fast-paced and changing world. For the middle school student, this is compounded by the needs and problems peculiar to this special time in life. The middle school student’s emotions seem to be taking them on a roller coaster ride; physical changes are happening at a rapid pace; they are struggling with the need to be independent, and are trying to deal with peer pressure which is highly influential at this age. At SMS the staff is committed to meeting the challenges and needs of the middle school student. Realizing this is a critical period when young people need good role models and someone to talk with about all the changes which are occurring in their lives, a teacher / advisory program is available to the student. The name of our teacher / advisory program is P.R.I.D.E. This stands for: Program for Reaching Individual Developmental Excellence. Each school year new students will be randomly placed in a multi-grade advisory group. One professional staff member will act as a facilitator for a group of 16 to 18 students to help the student during their time at SMS.
All grades at SMS will participate in
educational
field trips. The same good manners and rules of conduct that apply at
school
will be expected of students participating on field trips. Expenses for
these
trips will be the responsibility of each student. Information
concerning the
purpose of the trip, place to be visited, cost, chaperones, etc., will
be sent
to parents in a timely manner. Students
participating in field trips must turn in a signed permission slip from
parents.
Phone calls for permission will not be accepted.
Students who
have been suspended out of school, placed at the Alternative School or
Parkway
Academy, been placed in in-school suspension for multiple offenses, or
who have
accumulated 5 unexcused absences will NOT be allowed to go on field
trips during that
semester.
Parents are encouraged to participate and are welcomed as chaperones on
SMS
field trips. Because these outings require seating space on buses, and
reservations for many of the attractions to be visited, adults
accompanying
each group will pay at the student rate.
Student participation in the science and
social
studies fairs will be emphasized in grades 7 & 8 this year.
Guidelines for
participation and for presentation of the material will be given
through the
appropriate classes. Completed projects will be displayed in the gym,
judged by
a committee, and graded by the teachers. Awards will be presented.
Winning
science projects may be entered in the Sevier County Science Fair.
Programs will be scheduled during the school year with some being educational and others for entertainment. Students and parents will be notified of any cost. Recognition and awards programs for achievement, leadership, and improvement will also be scheduled during the school year.
SMS will offer a wide range of special
interest
activities designed to both awaken and deepen interests of our
students. These
offerings may be of several types. Students can elect to take special
interest
courses taught by teachers and community volunteers with special
talents. Such
exploratory courses combined with other activity programs like team
building;
clubs, organizations, and special days at SMS will provide all students
an
opportunity to be actively involved.
SMS sponsors basketball teams for seventh and
eighth
grade boys and girls. Both teams participate in regular season games
and
tournaments. SMS also sponsors a girl’s volleyball team and
cheerleading. The
athletic department at SCHS sponsors a football team.
After
school
activities will be planned for students and parents throughout the
school year.
Notice of upcoming events will be communicated as they are scheduled so
everyone can participate.
Regular attendance at school and promptness
for
classes are necessary if each student is to benefit from the programs
and
instruction offered at SMS. Each student should strive for a perfect
attendance
record. State law requires a student to attend school for three hours
and
thirty minutes to be counted present for that day. The Sevier County
Board of
Education passed a new attendance policy at the April 2000 Meeting that
will
impact students in grades 6 - 8. The following is a summary of the
current
policy:
Absences and tardies will be classified as
either
excused or unexcused as determined by the principal or his/her designee
using
the following criteria as set forth by the Board. Excused absences and
tardies
result from the following:
1. Personal
illness;
2. Immediate
family member;
3. Death in the family;
4. Extreme
weather conditions;
5. Religious
observances;
6. School bus
failures;
7. Circumstances
which in the judgment of the
principal create emergencies over which the student has no control.
Other absences
and tardies will be unexcused.
Students participating in school-sponsored
activities will not be counted absent. All missed class work or tests
must be
made up when a student has an excused absence or is out of class on a
school-sponsored activity. When a student’s absence is unexcused, the
student
will be allowed to make up tests missed. Regular class work will not be
made up
and the student will receive a zero for that work.
For grades 6 - 12, parent/guardian notes will be accepted by the principal for each event of student illness in a semester. Such events will be considered excused. These events or occasions may be one or more days. If the illness becomes extended (four or more days), the principal may request a medical statement to verify the illness. After four occasions in a semester, medical or other professional statements provided by a doctor, dentist, etc., may be required by the principal for each occasion. If requested by the principal, failure to provide the statements will cause the absence to become unexcused. Any student having five or more unexcused absences will be considered for possible truancy actions.
A total of five (5) school days per school
year may
be excused by the building level administration for a family vacation
prior to
the student going on vacation. Approval
will be dependent upon student’s attendance and academic record.
Longer
periods of time must be requested and approved by the Superintendent of
Sevier
County Schools. Please do not request a vacation during the week of
TCAP. The
state window for testing is April 16-April 20, 2007.
The school day at SMS begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. Students who arrive before 7:50 a.m. must go directly to the gym. Students will be dismissed from the gym at 7:52 to report to homerooms. No student should arrive at school before 7:15 a.m. The doors will not open and there will be no teacher on duty to supervise students. The front doors will open at 7:15. If a student is late for school and arrives after 8:05 a.m., he or she must bring a note signed by the parent including a phone number where the parent can be reached. Unexcused tardies will result in disciplinary action.
Students are considered tardy (unexcused)
even if
parents have difficulty getting them to school in the morning. The SMS
Tardy
Policy is:
1. Four unexcused tardies
per semester - parent notification by school personnel.
2. After four unexcused
tardies a student will have 1 day of ISS each time they are tardy.
If it is necessary for a student to leave school early, a parent or an adult on the authorization card must come in the office to check the student out. Classes missed will be excused for the same reasons as full day excused absences. Any student absent for an excusable reason is responsible for completing work missed as a result of leaving early. No student is to be picked up after 2:45 P.M. unless he/she has a doctor’s appointment.
Afternoon dismissal begins at 3:05 p.m.
Students who
ride first load buses will go to the back parking lot and load at that
time.
Parents will pick up students who are car riders at the front entrance
to the
building. Students who have parent permission to walk will also be
dismissed at
3:05. At 3:15 p.m. second load bus riders will be dismissed from the
team areas
to report to the gym to wait for buses. Students not picked up by
parents (car
riders) will report to the gym. Parents can locate children there.
Announcements concerning the closing of
schools in
Students who have been absent from school
with an
excused absence are allowed to make up any work missed during this time. Board policy grants one school day for each
excused absence to make up work beginning with the day the student
returns to
school. It is the student’s
responsibility to see each teacher and request needed assignments. Parents may request needed assignments for
students
who have been absent for more than 3
days. These assignments may be picked
up in the school office after 3:15 with prior arrangements having been
made
with the student’s teachers before 9:15 A.M.
Visitors, upon arrival at
the school, are required to check-in at the front office.
Education is a process of growing and
learning to
live in society as a contributing, participating member of the group. Discipline is the development of
self-control, character, responsibility, restraint, fair play, and
consideration
for the feelings and welfare of others.
Good manners (consideration for the other person) encompass both
of
these ideas.
School rules and regulations are based upon Sevier County schools Code of Student Conduct and Discipline and will be followed at all times - both at the school and at school sponsored activities. A copy of this policy is on file in the SMS office. During the first week of school, teachers will review The Code of Student Conduct and Discipline with all students. All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects consideration for the rights and feelings of others, in addition to pride in our school and self-respect. Blatant disregard for, or continued violation of these rules will result in appropriate disciplinary action to include, but not limited to: removal of extra-curricular privileges, parent notification, after school detention, isolated study, in-school suspension, bus suspension, corporal punishment, Alternative School placement, out-of-school suspension, or expulsion.
The Sevier
County School System recognizes the
effect, which student dress and grooming have upon student behavior and
commitment
to learning. Attire considered disruptive to health or safety is not
appropriate. The following rules concerning dress and grooming are
mandatory in
grades 6-12, beginning with the 1999-2000 school year.
Bottom
wear
(Waist
and below-pants, skirts, shorts, skorts)
Bottom wear must be size appropriate for the wearer with no sagging or bagging, and must be worn securely at and around the waist so as not to reveal undergarments and to prevent pant legs from touching the floor. Wide-legged pants which expose less than one fourth of the top of the foot, large pockets, cargo pockets, spandex, or leggings shall not be allowed. Skirts, shorts, or skorts must be no shorter in length than four (4) inches above the knee in grades 6-8. Slits must be no higher than four (4) inches above the knee in grades 6-8.
Belts are required if pants are noticeably
sagging.
Top
Wear
(Waist
and Above)
Shirts must be size appropriate for the
wearer
having sleeves which cover the Deltoid muscle, and be worn either
tucked in or
no more than three inches below the top of the waist band but in no
event shall
the bottom of the shirt cover any portion of a pocket opening. Bare
midriffs
shall not be allowed. Size appropriate
fleece pullovers; light jackets; long sleeve crew neck, v-neck; or
cardigan
sweater vests; or sweatshirts may be worn over an approved shirt.
Girls may wear dresses appropriately sized
for the
wearer with the length no shorter in length than four (4) inches above
the knee
in grades 6-8. Dresses may either have sleeves or be a sleeveless dress
as long
as no undergarments are visible. Dresses will not have string or
spaghetti
straps but will have straps that come to the edge of the shoulder.
Shoes
must be
worn at all times.
Coats, heavy jackets, or raincoats shall not
be worn
inside the building unless otherwise directed by the school principal
or
his/her designee in an unusual situation.
Clothing shall be neat, clean, hemmed, and
shall not
have holes, rips, cuts, or frayed edges. Articles of clothing shall not
be worn
which imply or promote alcohol, sex, drugs, tobacco, violence, gangs,
racial
slurs, or offensive language. No pajamas
or house slippers.
No headgear or sunglasses will be worn in the
building (except those worn for obvious medical reasons and the results
thereof).
Any accessory that is studded, spiked,
contains
chains or can tabs, or in any way presents a potential danger or harm
to self
or others is prohibited.
Tattoos whether permanent or temporary will
be
covered if possible. Visible body piercing jewelry (except for ears) is
prohibited. Hair is not to be sprayed or dyed in unnatural colors (such
as
blue, pink, green, orange, yellow, etc.), spiked, or mohawked.
Schools may develop special dress days for special occasions at the direction of the principal.
If a student cannot comply with the
standardized
dress code based on special conditions or religious beliefs, his or her
parent
or guardian may write a letter explaining the situation to the
Superintendent
of Schools or his/her designee, with a copy to the school principal or
his/her
designee. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis. To
insure the
health and safety of students, the school principal or his/her designee
is
allowed to further restrict manner of dress or style of hair in
specific
curriculum areas (shop, chemistry lab, etc.)
Book bags must be constructed from materials,
which
allow the contents of the book bag to be visible. Any band instrument
or
necessary sports bag must be dropped off at an area designated by the
building
level principal.
Disciplinary
Action
Any student
not attired in accordance with the
foregoing policy shall be subject to disciplinary consequences as per
board
policy. In addition to the foregoing when a student is attired in a
manner that
is likely to cause disruption or interference with the operation of the
school,
the principal shall take appropriate action. Legal
Reference: T.C.A. 49-6-4215
A student shall not use or have possession of
tobacco products, drugs, or alcohol in any form on school premises, on
school
buses, or on school sponsored activities.
A student may be suspended for unlawful use, possession, or
distribution
of barbital or legend drugs, marijuana, and/or alcohol.
Use or possession of tobacco shall subject
the student to in-school punishment, placement at the alternative
learning
center, or suspension. A student shall not possess, handle, or transmit
any
weapons, or dangerous instruments on the campus of Sevierville Middle
School.
An ISS program is utilized at SMS for students who need more structured supervision or isolation from peers because of inappropriate behavior. Student responsibilities and ISS rules will be explained to students placed in this program. Students must understand that ISS is a privilege, which prevented his/her being suspended out of school. As with all privileges, abuse of ISS can result in ALC placement or out of school suspension.
Students may choose a salad or regular lunch
service
for the prices listed. Students who
forget their lunch money will be allowed to charge a maximum total of
$5.00
that must be paid back as soon as possible.
Students who do not wish to eat in the SMS cafeteria may bring a
lunch
from home. Leaving the SMS
campus during the lunch period or having the lunch
catered is not permitted. Beverages
should be brought in a thermos. Drinks in cans or bottles are not
permitted.
Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their son or daughter at
Sevierville
Middle School.
Forms are available to all
students for free or reduced breakfast or lunch. These
may be obtained from the office or from
the cafeteria manager. Please complete
the information and return it to the school as soon as possible.
Sevier County provides bus transportation for students according to state guidelines. Riding a bus is a privilege and students are expected to observe proper rules of conduct and good manners at all times. Failure to do so will result in appropriate disciplinary action. The transportation department determines bus schedules, routes, and drivers. Questions related to transportation should be made to that department at 453-3568.
The bus driver
is in complete charge of students riding the bus. The driver’s instructions
must be followed at all times. The driver has the authority to assign
seats on
the bus. Students who plan to ride a bus to which they are not
regularly
assigned should bring a signed note from their parent requesting this
privilege
and receive permission from the SMS administration.
Good rules for
bus conducts are:
Observe the same good
manners used in class.
Be courteous.
Fighting is never acceptable
behavior.
Use no profanity.
Do not cause damage to the
bus.
Cooperate with the driver.
Keep head, hands, and feet
inside the bus.
Stay in your seat.
Parents Right
to Know
No Child Left Behind requires that
all schools notify parents of all children that they have a right to
request
and receive timely information on the professional qualifications of
the
teachers and paraprofessionals working with their children.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires that the Sevier County School System, with certain exceptions, obtain the written consent fo parents prior to disclosure of personally identiable information from a child’s educational recrods. Parents should be encouraged to carefully review the (FERPA) notice for directory information which is distributed to parental signature at each school annually. The notice specifically deals with the access of military recruiters.
Accidents or
illnesses, which occur during the
school day, should be reported immediately to the teacher in charge.
Office
personnel should also be notified. School nurse or office personnel
will
provide temporary care. Parents will be notified at home or at work.
Names and
phone numbers of a relative or neighbor should be provided on the
emergency
card and the authorization card. These people will be called if the
parent
cannot be reached. If emergency medical attention is required, the
student will
be taken to the nearest medical facility. Please sign the portion of
the
enrollment card that allows us to care for your child and designate the
medical
doctor you prefer. Office personnel will place calls concerning an
accident or
illness. Students will not be allowed to call home requesting to be
picked up.
If a student is taking any type of
medication, it
should be brought to the office on arrival to school. A signed note
from the
parent should accompany the medication. If a child is taking
prescription
medication the following procedures must be used:
Textbooks are furnished to each student in
Sevier
County at no cost to the individual. Each person signs a textbook
agreement at
the time of enrollment and agrees to pay for any damage or loss of the
book
according to a scale adopted by the Sevier County Board of Education.
All books
must be returned to the appropriate teacher at SMS before grades or
cumulative
records will be released. Records and notice of promotion will not be
released
until all obligations are removed.
Any items, which are found at SMS, should be
turned
in to the office. Items, which have been lost, should be inquired about
in the
office. It will be helpful if personal items such as jackets, purses,
book bags
etc. are marked with the student’s name. If found, these items can be
returned
to the proper person.
Some classes may require students to purchase
supplies or materials. Most of these can be purchased in the school
bookstore. Also, students may buy paper,
folders, and other items needed in their classroom activities.
Lockers
or
cubicles are available for students during the first week of school. They are the property of the school and can
be inspected at any time. Students need
to keep them in good condition. No
posters are allowed--inside or out.
Students may bring book bags or tote bags to school; however,
they must
be kept in the locker or cubicle.
Students should NOT carry book bags to class.
Students are not permitted to use electronic devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, or any other non-academic related items during school hours. If these devices are seen they will be taken up by the teacher and turned in to the office. A parent must come to the office to claim the confiscated device. If it is necessary for the student to have such devices then it must be turned off and secured in their locker until the end of the school day. The school assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or broken items.
Grade Cards
Grade
cards will be sent on the sixth instructional day following the end of
the six
weeks grading period. The grade card
must be signed by the parent or guardian and returned to the teacher as
soon as
possible. If a grade card is lost, it
will be the student’s responsibility to pay for a new card upon its
issuance. Mid-grading period progress
reports will be sent to the parent or guardian by the seventeenth day
of the
grading period for all academic subject areas
The
following grading scale
will be used:
A
95-100
B+ 90-92
C+ 83-84
D
70-72
A-
93-94
B
85-89
C
75-82
F
Less than 70
C- 73-74
Homework
We believe homework is important because it
is a
valuable aid in helping students make the most of their experience in
school. We give homework because it
reinforces what has been taught in class, prepares students for
upcoming
lessons, and helps students develop self-discipline, responsibility,
and
organizational skills. At Sevierville Middle School homework takes
several
different forms, but there are basically four types of homework
assignments.
We expect students to follow these guidelines
when
completing homework assignments:
§ All assignments will be completed.
§ Students are responsible for making up homework missed due to absence.
§ Homework will be turned in on time.
§ Students will turn in work that is neatly done.
There
is no
ideal time allocation for homework, but teachers, when making homework
assignments, do so with an awareness of the general expectations of
other
teachers in other subject areas.
Additionally, consideration is given to the amount of time
available
during the school day to complete assignments.
It is the general belief at Sevierville Middle School that all
academic
classes require that students spend some amount of time, on a regular
basis,
engaged in some form of homework. The
specified amount of time allocated depends of the subject and the
purpose of
the assignment.
Every homework assignment will be given for a
specific purpose. Not all homework will be evaluated for grading
purposes. Each assignment, however, will
be reviewed for
accuracy or quality. Homework can be a
factor in the determination of the daily grade.
Each
teacher
will clearly define his/her homework policies and expectations to
students. This definition will include
information about making up missed work, effect on grades, expectation
about
quality, etc. As the word “homework”
implies, there must be a close and supportive relationship between the
home and
school relating to homework. Parents are
urged to provide encouragement, as well as time, for students to
participate in
the important component of education.