School Personnel Available to Assist You:
Mt. Pisgah Middle School is dedicated to the purpose of training minds and building skills that will be useful and required, now and in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to have certain rules to ensure each individual the opportunity to benefit from the program. This student agenda outlines some of the policies around which our school functions.
The school faculty will offer many opportunities to each student. In return each student will be expected to give cooperation, interest and enthusiasm in classroom and extracurricular activities. As a citizen of this school each student is expected to follow the rules that are established for the welfare of the entire student body. Following the rules will help all students to become better school citizens. BE PROUD OF YOUR SCHOOL! Take good care of it. As a school citizen, each student is expected to conduct himself properly.
Appropriate behavior, respect for oneself, and respect for the feelings of others will ensure the best possible school and learning environment for a successful year. Each student has a responsibility to himself and to every other member of our learning community. At Mt. Pisgah students are in a safe environment where the focus is on learning. Student behavioral standards designed to encourage Responsibility, Integrity, Cooperation, and Effort (RICE) are the focus around which our school and team discipline programs are developed.
Student Code for Honest Performance
In order to help our students develop academic and personal achievement, we have adopted the following code for honest performance.
Instructional tasks which are assigned by the teacher should reflect the work of the student receiving the grade. Students who knowingly represent another's work, information, or knowledge as one's own are considered to be in violation of the student code for honest performance. Below is a list of examples. Note: These are not all inclusive.
If a student has been observed violating the code for honest performance, our teachers will take all the following steps:
Note: Violation of the code for honest performance on homework will result in a loss of credit for that assignment.
Aerosol Sprays, Cologne, Perfume, Lotions
Any type of aerosol spray, cologne, perfume, or highly fragranced lotion may not be brought to school.
Students are encouraged to be in attendance and prompt in reporting to school every day school is in session. Time out of school represents a loss of valuable instructional time. Excessive absences and/or tardies result in the development of poor work habits.
If a student is tardy, he/she must be signed in by a parent/guardian in the office and receive an admit slip. Failure to do so can result in the student being marked absent for the entire day. Students entering after 9:00 a.m. are considered tardy.
The practice of checking students out of school should be reserved for emergency reasons only. Every effort should be made to schedule appointments after school hours. However, if a student must leave school early for some permissible reason, the parent or guardian must come to the school office and sign the student out. Students are not to leave the school grounds unless their parent/guardian has signed them out through the office. Those who do so will be considered truant. Students will be called to the office after parents arrive for check-out. Students lose valuable instructional time while waiting for parents who are unexpectedly delayed.
Students must be checked out prior to 3:30 p.m. if leaving early. The student sign in/sign out books will be collected at 3:30 so late arrivals and early departures can be entered in the computer for accurate attendance records. Also, cars start lining up for pick up around 3:30 and there is a possibility you may have difficulty leaving the campus if you arrive around this time.
NOTE: The school can release students to their parents, legal guardians, or those listed as emergency friends on the registration card. Please keep the registration card information up to date by informing the office if a change must be made. Anyone who seeks to check out a student must present a picture identification.
Each student who has been absent must present a note from home explaining the reason and dates of absence to their homeroom teacher. Failure to do so will result in an "unexcused absence". Continued unexcused absences are a violation of Tennessee's Compulsory Education Law, and could result in disciplinary action by the school and referral to Juvenile Court. Students who have not been tardy, not checked out early, and have attended school everyday will be recognized for perfect attendance.
In order that students may be duly recognized for outstanding achievements, awards will be presented at the grade level honor's assemblies each nine weeks. We will also honor our students who have exhibited academic achievement and excellence throughout the year at our Honor's Assembly at the end of the school year.
Conferences may be scheduled Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 8:15 a.m. Please call the office at 756-2386 to arrange a conference. Please allow two days notification for the teachers. Emergency conferences may be held on one day notification. Impromptu conferences will not be held
Shelby County Schools' students are expected to dress and appear in a manner that meets reasonable standards of health, cleanliness, modesty, and safety. It should remain a matter of personal pride to maintain high standards of neatness, and appropriateness of dress and appearance which reflects favorably upon yourself, your parents, and Shelby County Schools. All experiences during school years should be a part of a student’s preparation to take his/her place in society as a mature and responsible individual.
The responsibility for the appearance of the students begins with parents and the students themselves. Student's clothing, make-up and hairstyles should reflect neatness, cleanliness and self-respect so that the school is a desirable place in which to promote learning and character development. A student who is not attired appropriately or exhibits grooming which is detrimental and/or distractive to the school environment shall be asked to refrain from wearing the inappropriate attire in the future or shall be required to make arrangements for more suitable or appropriate dress. The principal shall make the final decision.
Some guidelines of ACCEPTABLE attire are set forth below:
NOTE: These are not all inclusive
Some guidelines of UNACCEPTABLE attire are set forth below:
NOTE: These are not all inclusive
NOTE: Uniforms for spirit and athletic groups must be consistent with student dress codes when worn during the instructional day.
All personnel shall be responsible for consistently enforcing violations of the dress code and when necessary reporting to the site administrator / designee. When the site administrator / designee determines that a student's attire is in violation of this policy, the student will be required to modify his / her appearance, clothing, and / or apparel to be in compliance with the dress code. Appropriate action will be taken at the time the violation occurs, and when necessary, a home contact will be seeking parental cooperation and assistance. The student may be taken home by the parent to modify unacceptable appearance or dress and return to school. When arrangements for correction in appearance or dress may not be accomplished, the student will be placed in a supervised area to complete his / her school assignments apart form the regular school setting for the remainder of the school day. This placement will be in-school suspension in middle and high school, and an alternative, supervised area in the elementary school. In the case of questionable dress or grooming that is not specifically covered in the Dress Code Policy #6205, the school administration will make the final decision, which will be supported by the Superintendent and Board. Appropriate action will be taken and the parent will be contacted.
Middle and high school apparel for athletic competition or school related extracurricular activities or performances may be worn, consistent with board policy, contingent upon the approval of the principal.
Dress Code Enforcement
FIRST OFFENSE: Parent or guardian will be contacted. Student will be required to change into acceptable clothing to remain in his / her regular program. Absence from class during this time will be unexcused
SECOND OFFENSE: Parent or guardian will be contacted or conference will be held. Student will be sent home to change into acceptable clothing and will be assigned a detention or ISS. Absence from class during this time will be unexcused.
THIRD OFFENSE: Parent or guardian will be contacted. A conference will be held which involves the parent, student, and school. Repeated violations will be deemed defiance and the student will be suspended form school based on the severity of the infraction. Absence from class during this time will be unexcused. A parent or guardian conference must be held with school administrators prior to the student be allowed to attend class.
Crisis Management Plan
In the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, please be assured that Mt. Pisgah Middle School does have a Crisis Management Plan in place to respond to any type of disaster that can be anticipated. We at Mt. Pisgah Middle School take emergency preparedness very seriously and are committed to the safety of each student.
Should a natural disaster or other emergency occur, parents will be provided instructions and information through the news media. Parental cooperation in following those instructions will be vital in ensuring the safety of our students.
Parents will not be permitted to enter the building to locate and take their children without following the instructions provided. Pick-up locations and procedures will be announced as dictated by the prevailing circumstances If necessary, some or all students may be taken to an alternative location for parent pickup. If available, the school cafeteria will be our centralized pick-up point. Students will only be permitted to leave with the listed guardian or emergency contact person listed in our records. Parents may wish to update their contacts with the school. In the case of a non-critical crisis in which school is dismissed early, every effort will be made to provide parents with adequate notification through the media.
Lastly, parents are asked not to telephone the school in the event of a disaster. If the telephones are working, we will need them to make calls to emergency agencies, news agencies and school system support personnel.
Emergencies
School officials will not interrupt classroom instruction to deliver a message to a student or to call a student out of class except for emergencies. However, in the case of an emergency, we will be glad to assist you in any way. If a student is injured during the school day, we must have current emergency phone numbers for each student. Please be sure to include the name and number of two emergency friends on your child's enrollment card. If this information changes during the year, please call the school office, 756-2386, and we will update as needed.
Students who have not been able to complete work due to extended excused absences may be issued an "I" for incomplete. The incomplete work must be completed prior to the end of the next nine weeks. If it is not completed, the grades will be entered as "0".
Due to the unsanitary conditions created by the improper disposal of gum, students are not permitted to chew gum during the school day. Students who violate this regulation will be subject to disciplinary action.
Anytime a student is out of any class, he must have a hall pass from a teacher.
Students will receive homework assignments and are responsible for the completion of all assignments. Please help your student by providing the time, place, cooperation and encouragement needed to complete assignments. Students should plan to spend 45 minutes to one hour on homework each night
In order that students may be dully recognized for outstanding achievements, awards will be presented at each grade level each nine weeks. We will also honor our students who have exhibited academic achievement and excellence throughout the year at our Honor's Assembly at the end of the school year. In grades 6 - 8, Principal's Honor Roll is recognized for all A's in academic and specialty classes and an E, G or S in conduct for all classes. In 7th and 8th grade, Academic Honor roll is recognized for at least 3 A's and 1 B in all academic classes, no grades lower than a B in specialty classes, and an E, G or S in conduct for all classes. Academic Honor Roll in the 6th grade is recognized for at least 3 A's and 1B in academic areas, E's, G's and S's in specialty classes and an E, G or S in conduct. In the 5th grade, Principal's Honor Roll is all A's in academic subjects, all E's in specialty classes, and an E, G or S in conduct. Academic Honor Roll is recognized for at least 3 A's and 3 B's in academic areas, E's in specialty classes, and an E. G or S in conduct.
Immunization laws require all students entering 7th grade show proof of adequate immunization against Hepatitis B. The requirement is state law and may result in your child being excluded from school until the requirements are met or documented.
Complete immunizations are required for all students attending school within 30 days of enrollment. If the immunization record is not received within the above time period your student will not be allowed to attend Shelby County Schools.
Mt. Pisgah School hours are 9:00 to 4:00. A student coming to school late should report to the attendance office with his/her parent with an explanation of the tardy arrival. Students will be given an admit slip to give to their teacher.
Individual locker assignments are made the first week of school. Lockers should be kept locked. A student should not divulge the locker combination to another student unless that student is assigned to share the locker. Direct all locker concerns to an administrator.
Please do not call the school and ask for assignments. While a child is home sick we want him/her to concentrate on getting well. Students will be given one day to make up work for each day of school missed for excused absences. Students need to be responsible for asking the teacher what was missed during the absence.
Students are not allowed to bring any medication to school, nor are they allowed to keep any type of medication on their person. This includes aspirin, prescriptions, etc., but excludes inhalers, which may be kept with the student so long as the appropriate form has been filed with the office. If you have any questions, call the office.
The following requirements must be met before school personnel will dispense medication to students:
Please contact the medical records secretary with any further questions.
The National Junior Society is a national scholastic and service organization.
Eligibility : Candidate must be a 7th or 8th grader; must have a 3.6 on a 4.0 scale accumulative grade point average. Enriched cources wil receive an additional point, i.e., A=5, B=4, etc. Candidate will then be evaluated on the basis of excellence in service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Eligible students must not have servered more than three days of ISS and will not have received any out-of-school suspensions during their eligibility year. Students will not have received a conduct drade lower that an "S" (i.e. no N's or U's). The selection of each member to the chapter will be by majority vote of the faculty council.
Office hours are from 8:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Parents who have a scheduled conference should come to the office so the secretarial staff can notify the teacher(s) of their arrival.
The secretaries in the main office are available to assist you. The busiest times of the day in the office are 8:45 - 9:30 and 3:45 - 4:15. Please do not call during these times if your concern can be addressed during less busy times.
Coats, book bags, band instruments and other articles of value should be labeled. It is best not to bring anything of value, including large amounts of money, to school. The school is not responsible for loss of or damage to personal property.
A web-based, 24-hour administrator, teacher, parent, and student access to grade, attendance, test, and other student data a systemwide student management program
• Ease of use/time savings
•One program to manage all student data
•Integrate data to our library, school nutrition and transportation programs without duplicate entry of student data
•Compatibility with State Department of Education E.I.S. reporting
•Powerful and easy report generating functions
•Ability to define and print a variety of reports to a local printer
Shelby County Schools provide report cards each nine weeks. You will receive a report card in an envelope. Please keep the report card and sign and return the report card envelope. In addition to the report cards, Mt. Pisgah sends interim reports at the mid-point of each nine weeks. These forms must be signed and returned to the teacher who issued them.
Each student is required, by law, to have a social security number. We must have this information for each student enrolled at Mt. Pisgah.
What is SAP?
This program is offered to students as a free community service by Shelby County Schools. Participation in SAP is voluntary and provides students with help needed to overcome problems that interfere with their education.
How does SAP work?
Students may be referred to SAP by parents, teachers, school staff, or the student himself. The SAP Core Team then gathers teacher observations, academic, and other school related information that will be used during the assessment. The assessment is provided by a mental health professional. Feedback from the assessment will be given to the parents and the members of the SAP Core Team.
What are some of the problems a student may have?
If you have any questions about SAP, call Mt. Pisgah and ask to speak to the SAP Coordinator.
Each Grade Level/Team, as well as Band, Chorus, General Music, and Art, have
provided a list of materials that are needed for the 2007-2008 school year.
Some teachers might require additional supplies. Make sure that your name is
on ALL school supplies.
5th Grade
6th Grade
This is a general 6th grade supply list. According to your child's team, the list may be slightly altered or items may be added.
7th Grade
This is a general 7th grade supply list. According to your child's team, the list may be slightly altered or items may be added.
8th Grade
Band
Chorus
General Music
Art
Fifth Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Seventh Grade:
Eighth Grade:
The Shelby County School System provides textbooks for our students. Each subject area textbook must be used for five years. It is very important that each student take proper measures to care for textbooks. Textbooks must be covered. Please do not use adhesive covers. A textbook receipt form is filled out during the first week of school. Each parent will be asked to note any damages, sign the receipt and send it back to school. Any damage to textbooks issued to the student will result in a fine. It will be the student's responsibility to know where his textbooks are at all times. If a student loses a textbook, he/she will be required to pay for the book and a second book will be issued.
Students will ride on the bus assigned to their address. Students will not be permitted to ride on any bus other than the one to which they are assigned. Each student will be picked up and dropped off at the same stop. Students will be given a list of the bus rules during the first week of school. These rules must be strictly observed to provide for the safe and time-efficient transport of all of our students. All bus concerns should be discussed with an administrator.
Truancy is defined as absence from class or school for any portion of a period or day without proper permission from parent or school official. Students who are truant will be subject to disciplinary action. Continued truancy will result in disciplinary action and/or referral to juvenile court.
The student should bring a written statement from his/her guardian requesting withdrawal. The written statement should be taken to the office on the morning of the day before the student's last day. The student will receive a withdrawal form to circulate among his/her teachers, the librarian, and the textbook coordinator. All textbooks will be collected. Each teacher will list the grade for the subject he/she teaches the student. The librarian must indicate that the student library record is clear. In addition, before the withdrawal is completed, all other records, including financial obligations, must be cleared.
When the information on the withdrawal form has been completed, the student should return the form to the office. One copy will be given to the student and the others will be retained in the school office. Please be sure to include the student's new school name and address so we may forward all necessary records.