Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary School
“A Title I Distinguished School “2008-2009
Parent/Student Handbook
2011-2012
Home of theRoadrunners
Taking Responsibility, Building Relationships, Showing Respect, Getting Results.
5905 Grosvenor Ave.
Memphis, Tennessee38119
901-416-2128
FAX: 901-416-2130
Memphis City Schools does not discriminate in its programs or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, handicap/disability, sex, or age.
Balmoral /RidgewayElementary School
Accreditated by the Southern Association of Colleges and SchoolsRobyn Liebenhaut, Ed.S.
Principal
Our Mission
We will provide a high performing learning culture in a nurturing environment with high expectations and instructional activities that are meaningful, relevant and inclusive.
Our Vision
Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary School will become a school dedicated to the development of high achieving students who will confidently meet life’s challenges as responsible, productive citizens.
Beliefs
- We believe the overall achievement level of our students can consistently be improved and the achievement gaps be eliminated.
- We believe a positive, safe, and physically comfortable environment is essential for effective learning.
- We believe in utilizing a variety of research based instructional approaches to support student learning.
- We believe diversity must be embraced and respected.
- We believe that high expectations and accountability from parents, students, teachers and administrators promote high achievement.
- We believe in fostering collaboration among staff and stakeholders.
- We believe in utilizing research based information and data to drive decision-making.
- We believe in aligning policies and procedures to maintain a focus on achieving the goals for student learning.
August 15, 2011
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to Balmoral/Ridgeway and the 2011-2012 school year. We are pleased to have our returning Balmoral/Ridgeway families and warmly welcome our new families. The faculty, staff, and administration have high expectations for the coming year. We pledge to encourage and care for your child/children by providing exceptional learning opportunities that improve their academic achievement, personal integrity,workplace literacy and civic awareness. We look forward to seeing you at our school activities and taking part in our programs. We want to connect the work you do parenting your child to the work your child’s teachers are doing within the student-teacher relationships at school.
This handbook will address most of our school policies, procedures and rules. Please read it thoroughly and share this information with your child/children. If at any time you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact me through the school office at 416-2128. E-mail: . I look forward to seeing and working closely with you this school year.
Respectfully,
Robyn Liebenhaut, Ed.S.
Principal
School Information
School Hours8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
School Age Child Care HoursBefore Care: 6:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
After Care: 3:15 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
School Telephone Number901-416-2128
School Fax Number901-416-2130
Guidance Office Number901-416-2128 ext. 31026
Cafeteria Number901-416-1406
PrincipalMrs. Robyn Liebenhaut, Ed.S
Guidance CounselorMrs. Marylyn Washington
Financial SecretaryMrs. Angela Watson
General Office SecretaryMrs. Michele Yasinsky
Building EngineerMr. Dwaine Hooker
Cafeteria ManagerMr. Norman Taylor
School Age Care CoordinatorMrs. Debbie Jones
Memphis City Schools
2011-2012 Academic Calendar
BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINSDATE(S) / DAY(S) / EVENT
August 1 / Monday / In-Service Day
August 2 / Tuesday / Administrative Day / Registration (8am- 3pm; 6pm-8pm)
August 3 / Wednesday / In-Service Day
August 4 / Thursday / In-Service Day
August 5 / Friday / Administrative Day
FIRST SEMESTER (88 days)
DATE(S) / DAY(S) / EVENT / STUDENTS OUT / TEACHERS OUT
August 8 / Monday / First Day of Classes(All regular classes and special education services)
August 8-12 / Monday-Friday / Staggered Entry (Kindergarten Students)
August 8 / Monday / Elementary Support Classes Must Begin(e.g. Music, Art, P.E.)
August 15 / Monday / First Day of Classes(Kindergarten Students)
September 5 / Monday / Labor Day / 1 Day / 1 Day
October 14 / Friday / Fall Break / 1 Day / 1 Day
October 17 / Monday / ½ District In-Service (12pm-3pm)½ Parent -Teacher Conferences (4pm-7pm) / 1 Day
November 23-25 / Wednesday-Friday / Thanksgiving Break / 3 Days / 3 Days
December 19 / Monday / Last Day of First Semester
December 20-
January 2 / Tuesday-Tuesday / Winter Break / 10 Days / 10 Days
SECOND SEMESTER (92 days)
DATE(S) / DAY(S) / EVENT(S) / STUDENTS OUT / TEACHERS OUT
January 3 / Tuesday / First Day of Second Semester(Classes resume as normal.)
January 16 / Monday / Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday / 1 Day / 1 Day
February 1 / Wednesday / TCAP Writing Assessment
February20 / Monday / ½ District In-Service(8am-11am)½ Parent-Teacher Conferences(12pm-3pm) / 1 Day
March 1 / Thursday / MCS Think Show
March 12-16 / Monday-Friday / Spring Break I / 5 Days / 5 Days
April 6 / Friday / Spring Break II / 1 Day / 1 Day
April 24-27 / Monday-Friday / TCAP Achievement Tests / Make-up day April 30, 2012
May 18 LAST DAY OF CLASSES
May 21 Make-Up Day in Case of inclement weather
May 22 Make-Up Day in Case of inclement weather
/
Reports to Families/Report Card Periods
End of First 9 Weeks / October 7Report Card Issued / October 19
End Second 9 Weeks / December 16
Report Card Issued / January 11
End of Third 9 Weeks / March 7
Report Card Issued / March 21
End of Fourth 9 Weeks / May 18
Report Card Issued / Mailed
Arrival and Dismissal: Students will be allowed into the building at 8:15 a.m. each day. Before care is provided for parents who need to drop children off before 8:15 a.m. Students will eat breakfast in their classrooms beginning at 8:15 a.m. There is no charge for breakfast. Parents with children enrolled in the before care program must bring students through the west cafeteria door and sign their child in between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Parents must also come through the same door to sign their child out between the hours of 3:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The book store is portable and will be open from 8:20-8:30 a.m.
The Pledge of Allegiance and the Balmoral Ridgeway School Motto will be recited each morning beginning at 8:40 a.m. Students, faculty and staff will also observe a moment of silence and a patriotic song will be sung. Instruction will begin at 8:50 a.m. Please do not walk with your child in to the instructional area. Please schedule meetings and conferences with your child’s teacher through the main office. (See Conferences and Classroom Observations)
In the afternoons, we will begin calling buses and aftercare students at 3 p.m. It is very important for bus riders to listen carefully for their buses to be called over the intercom in the afternoons. The buses are on a schedule and bus drivers can not wait excessively for students to leave their classrooms and load the bus. Please talk with your child about moving quickly and going directly to the bus when they are called to load buses in the afternoons. Car riders and walkers will be dismissed at 3:15 p.m. All students who are car riders will be dismissed with their teachers to the front of the building. Parents picking up students in cars will take Macinness to Lovitt and take a left onto Lovitt and a left onto Grosvenor. If you are entering Grosvenor from the east side and are parked on the opposite side of the street across from the school, please allow your child to cross the street with the crossing guard instead of calling them to cross the street alone. Please do not make U-turns in front of the school on Macinness.
Students from the high school or middle school will not be allowed to wait inside the building for siblings. Because there are no adults at school to supervise students, any child left after 3:30 p.m. will be placed in the after care program only if their parents have previously paid the registration fee. The drop in fee is 10.00. Students not picked and who are not registered will wait in the office while their teacher calls parents or someone on the student’s data form. Excessive tardies or late dismissals will result in an overnight suspension and will progress from there if the lateness continues.
Please make every effort to schedule doctor, dental and other appointments after school hours when school is not in session. Parents and guardians must come to the Main Office to check out their child. Teachers will not release a child without being notified by the office first. Individuals not identified on our computer system as parents, guardians, or emergency contacts will not be allowed to check students out of school.
Please do not ask to have your child dismissed after 2:30 p.m. unless it is an emergency.
Attendance: All children are expected to be in attendance and on time each day school is in session. Student absences will be considered excused for the following reasons: (1) personal illness of the student; (2) death or serious illness in the immediate family; (3) subpoena for court appearance; (4) recognized religious holiday; or (5) any unusual cause acceptable to the principal. A written excuse explaining the absence is required and should be given to the teacher the day the student returns to school. The teacher will then submit the written excuse to the attendance secretary .
Students are allowed to make up work as a result of an excused absence; however it is the responsibility of the student to make up assignments and tests within a reasonable time. Generally, students are allowed one day to make up assignments for each day missed.
The Memphis City Schools Policy on Unexcused Absences (BOE 5113) is enforced through the Pupil Services. Parents will receive a call each time their child is absent through the automated ParentLink call center. After 2 cumulative unexcused absences, parents will be called by the secretary, Mrs. Yasinsky. After the third and fourth unexcused absence parents will be called and a parent/teacher conference will be requested. A warning letter informing parents of the truancy laws and consequences of noncompliance will also be issued. After the fifth unexcused absence the Principal will send a letter requesting parental presence at a meeting with the Student Attendance Review Team (SART). The team members will develop and sign off on the Parent /Student Action Plan. If the parent does not adhere to the plan and is absent without an excuse for a total of 10 days, the SART will refer the student and parent to the community wide Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). The SARB consists of representatives from Juvenile Court and Memphis and ShelbyCounty community Services Agency, MemphisCitySchools, the Council of Missing and Exploited Children and the Department of Children’s Services. The SARB can also decide to refer the family to the Attorney General and Juvenile Court or give the parents an opportunity to follow the original plan developed by the school. Parents and students can also be required to attend an intervention program and parents can be required to attend a parenting class. Students and parents accumulating 15 or more days of unexcused absences within a school year may be referred to Juvenile Court and the District Attorney General’s office for appropriate legal action.
Bus Rules: Students must conduct themselves in an orderly manner both at the bus stops and on the buses. While waiting at the bus stop do not play near the street, hit, punch or kick others, or destroy property, Students will be required to sign a list of bus rules at registration. If rules are violated by a student, the parent will be notified. If a student continues to violate the rules, the student will be suspended and may lose the privilege of riding the bus.
The bus driver is considered a member of the faculty and the driver’s instructions are to be followed without question. The driver has the authority to assign seats on the bus as necessary and cameras may monitor buses when or if the need arises. Please report problems with bus transportation to First Student bus terminal at 743-0906 and/or to Transportation at Memphis City Schools at 416-5540
Bicycles: Students riding bicycles to school may enter the driveway and walk their bicycle to the bicycle rack near the basketball court. Please do not ride your bike on the sidewalks. You must provide your own bicycle lock. The school is not responsible for stolen or damaged bicycles. Please talk with your child about bicycle safety. Students riding bicycles must wear safety helmets.
Cafeteria: Please remind your child to practice good behavior and manners in the cafeteria. Running is not tolerated. Students are expected to enjoy their lunch using conversational voices.
Students are to follow the directions of their teachers or any other adult, including the cafeteria manager and his staff, who may be monitoring the cafeteria without hesitation or question. Students may also be removed and placed in an area of isolation to eat their lunch if they have difficulty eating with their classmates.
The cafeteria is not allowed by Memphis City Schools to loan money. Students must alert their teacher first thing in the morning if they have forgotten their lunch or lunch money. Please check to see that your child has lunch money before they leave for school. Money borrowed from the office must be paid back within 2 days. A student may not borrow more money until all previously borrowed money has been repaid. We encourage you to purchase lunch on a weekly or monthly basis. The cafeteria will collect weekly and monthly cash payments on Monday mornings at 8:30 a.m. each week. No checks for lunch are accepted. Prepayments may be brought to the cafeteria manager or sent in a sealed envelope marked as lunch money with the child and teacher’s name on the envelope. You may call the cafeteria manager at 416-1406 to see if your child has prepaid money left in their account.
Lunch Prices: $1.75 daily
$8.25 weekly (Prepay)
$. 25 reduced daily
$28.00 monthly (20 days)
$.40 extra milk
Universal Breakfast Free for Everyone
Applications for free/reduced priced lunches are available during registration and after that time in the main office.
Change of Address and Contact Information: It is imperative that you inform the school office of any address or phone number changes. We must be able to contact you in case of an emergency and/or inclement weather. Please send in writing any changes to this critical information.
Classroom Parties: There will be 2 parties a year; a Winter Holiday party and a Valentine’s Day party. All food items must comply with Nutrition Services healthy food guidelines. A maximum of $1.00 per party may be collected to help pay for the refreshments. The teachers and room parents plan the parties together. You may be contacted if you help is needed. Please do not send homemade items. You may bring a special treat for your child’s birthday to be consumed at the students’lunchtime. Birthday parties will not be allowed at any time.
CLUE: CLUE (Creative Learning in a Unique Environment) is for academically gifted students. CLUE meets twice a week for two and one half hours. Critical thinking and communication skills are areas stressed in the CLUE classes. Parents should contact the child’s teacher or Mrs. Washington , the guidance counselor for more information.
Code of Conduct and Discipline: Memphis City Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, handicap/disability, or sex in its programs and activities. No student will be denied equal access to or participation in any school sponsored class activities or honors program on the basis of the above. Students and parents who believe a student(s) has been discriminated against have the right to seek corrective action. Reports of such incidents must be submitted in writing to the principal. If the necessary corrective action is not taken, an appeal may be made to the Division of Student Information, Victor Carr, 2597 Avery Avenue, Room 218, Memphis, TN39112.
Each student is given a copy of the Memphis City Schools Code of Conduct. This brochure is the cornerstone of our school disciplinary guidelines. Parents and guardians are requested to review this document with their children and sign and return the signature portion to the school. This form will be given out at registration.
It is the responsibility of each student to operate as a responsible citizen. The Memphis City Schools establishes the policies governing student conduct. The administration and faculty at Balmoral/Ridgeway Elementary School uphold these policies.
The following types of behavior will result in consequences that range from warnings or conferences, in-school suspensions, home suspensions or even expulsion dependent upon the severity and/or continuation of the Code of Conduct violations. This is not an exhaustive list. Other actions not specifically mentioned here that result in disruption of the educational process, health or safety violations, or jeopardizes good order of the school may be subject to sanctions.
› Toys, games, CD’s and players, radios and tape players(subject to confiscation).