The Discovery School Student Handbook

l PURPOSE

This handbook was prepared to give information about the school to the students and parents of The Discovery School We hope it will help new students adjust quickly and easily to their new environment, and will prove to be a source of helpful information to all students

TDS Phone 615-441-4163

Fax 615-740-6679

TDS Cafeteria 615-740-7613

DCBOE 615-446-7571

2 SCHOOL NURSE

We have a full-time school nurse on staff The nurse is here to help with medical emergencies, illnesses that happen during the school day, and students who have approved medical conditions. However, the nurse is not available to provide general healthcare or to handle every issue that occurs outside of school hours. With over 200 students, students can't just go to the nurse whenever they want or to get comfort or attention. When a student asks to see the nurse, the teacher will decide if it's a valid reason. Many students ask to see the nurse to miss class or for a break. Some students who ask to see the nurse too often without any real health reason may be limited from doing so. This has become a concern, and we will keep an eye on it moving forward.

-MEDICINES DC Policy

-CARE OF SICK OR INJURED PUPILS

Emergency forms will be completed at the beginning of school, or when a pupil enrolls, containing the following information:

A. Name, address of parents or guardian and home telephone. If this number or address changes during the year please update in Skyward or notify the school office.

B. Other telephones where parents or guardians can be reached during the day. It is most important we have two alternate phone numbers. If these numbers change, please update or notify us.

C. Names of relatives or friends who could be contacted if parent or guardian cannot be reached

D. Family physician.

E. Name of hospital desired if injury or illness is serious.

When illness occurs, parents will be notified and students will be made as comfortable as possible until someone comes for the child The nurse will not call a parent for every student complaint If the nurse does not think, in her professional opinion, the complaint

warrants a phone call, the child’s complaint will be noted and he/she will be sent back to class

-WHEN AN INJURY OCCURS

A. First aid will be administered, if needed.

B. Minor injuries will be treated and students will remain in school under observation. If, in the judgment of school officials, medical treatment or consultation is advisable, parents, guardians or other designated persons will be notified.

C.

SERIOUS INJURIES

An ambulance will be called to transport the student to the hospital listed on the emergency card. At the same time parents or guardians will be notified.

The teacher and the principal will gather all information relative to accident or injury indicating time, place, witness, etc. and complete an accident report. This report will be sent to the office of the Director of Schools.

3 OPENING AND CLOSING OF SCHOOL DAY

Our school opens every day at 7:10 a m when our three buses drop students off at the door facing the playground, called the north door. When you drop off your child as a car rider in the morning, please remember to be courteous to our bus students.

Students who want breakfast, as well as Kindergartners and first graders, should go to the gym. All other students in grades 2 through 5 will go to the auditorium. Students will spend about thirty-five minutes in these areas, and during that time everyone will be reading. Students should bring a book to read.

Breakfast is served from 7:10 to 7:50 each morning. If you drop off your child after 7:10 and they don’t want breakfast, they should go straight to the gym (for grades K-2) or the auditorium (for grades 2-5). It’s best if you can drop your child off by no later than 7:40. Students will be dismissed from the gym and auditorium at 7:45 to walk to their classrooms. Staff members are placed around the building to watch over students and help if needed.

The first bell rings at 7:55, marking the start of the school day. Students who arrive after that are considered late and need a parent to check them in at the office to get a tardy slip All students’ late arrivals and early pickups are recorded at the office

It’s important for us to know how your child will go home in the afternoon. When your child starts school, the teacher will ask for this information If you need to change the way your child goes home like being picked up early, going home with someone different, or riding a different bus you should send a note or call the school before 2:40 p m Please try not to call every day It helps if your child knows their usual way home unless something

important comes up during the day Give all notes to your child’s homeroom teacher If we don’t have a note, your child will go home the usual way

Buses leave school at 2:47 p.m. every day. The official dismissal time is 2:55 p.m. each day

For K-2 car riders, and older brothers or sisters, they will be picked up at the north door (facing the playground) Students in grades 3-5 will be picked up at the east doors (Bank of Dickson side) Taekwondo students will be picked up at the gym door If your child isn’t picked up by 3:15 p m , they will be taken to the gym and signed into daycare After 3:15 p.m., parents can come to the gym to pick up their child. There is a fee for daycare for late pickups, and you can ask the daycare director, Tina Hogin, for more details.

To pick up your child in a car, please display a name tag on your car ’ s front visor. If your car doesn’t have a name tag, you will need to park and check your child out at the office.

4. ATTENDANCE DC Policy 6.200

Recognizing that absenteeism is a hindrance to efficient education of students and that punctuality and regularity of attendance affects the progress of a student at school, the Dickson County Board of Education has adopted the attendance policy listed above. The parent/guardian or other person having charge and control of a child is held responsible for the child's regular school attendance.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Grades K-6:

In order to meet the requirements for satisfactory attendance, a student in the Dickson County School System shall have an approved record of attendance. An approved record of attendance is considered to be ninety percent (90%) in each class.

Definitions:

ABSENT: Means a student not being in attendance in regularly scheduled classes at the school he/she attends. Approved school activities do not count as an absence.

PRESENT: Means a student being in attendance in regularly scheduled classes at the school he/she attends.

EARLY DISMISSAL: Means a student leaving class or school early.

TARDY: Arriving to class after 7:55 a.m. or leaving before school is dismissed at 2:55. When a student is not at school, the parent or guardian needs to let the school know about the absence They can call or email the school's attendance secretary to do this After the student returns, a written note from the parent or guardian must be given to the school The note should include the student's name, grade, dates missed, reason for the absence, and be signed by the parent or guardian. Each student can give up to five parent notes

per semester; after that, additional proof will be needed to explain absences The note must be brought to the school within five days of the student's return

Parent notes can be used for:

- Personal illness if the student didn’t see a doctor,

- Illness of a close family member (like mom, dad, brothers, or sisters), with the school needing to be told as soon as possible and proof provided,

- Religious holidays that are important to the student's faith, which are recognized as special days; in some cases, the school might ask for a note from a religious leader,

- Other reasons approved by the school on a case-by-case basis.

Some absences may still be marked as excused/unexcused (pending principal approval) The following will be excused:

- The death of a close family member, including grandparents (up to three days),

- A parent or guardian deploying for or returning from military service (up to one day),

- Required court appearances, if proper paperwork is shown,

- College visits, if they are approved beforehand and documented, with up to three visits allowed per year, which may be treated like field trips.

If a student gets sick during the school day, they should see the school nurse. The parent will be contacted to decide what care is best If the student is sent home that day, it will be considered an excused absence and won't count toward the parent note limit But if the student misses more days, a note from the parent or doctor will be needed for those days to be excused

Absences for activities outside of school can also be excused if approved by the school at least seven days in advance and if the student's attendance, grades, and behavior are in good standing These approved absences will count as parent notes, and only five such days are allowed per semester

In the event of a Remote Learning Day, please see the attached expectations and schedules. TDS Remote Learning Expectations & Schedules 2025-2026

5 TARDY - LATE ARRIVAL AND EARLY DISMISSAL DC Policy 6 200

If a student arrives at school after the designated start time, they are considered late If the reason for being late is because of the bus, it will be considered an excused tardy and won’t affect their attendance. The student must check in with the attendance secretary following the school's rules. If a student arrives more than 15 minutes after the school day begins, it will be marked as a late arrival.

Parents are encouraged to schedule doctor or dental appointments outside of school hours Whenever possible, students should return to school after these appointments Appointments that involve leaving early or arriving late should be planned so students miss no more than half of the school day

Students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to start by 7:55 a.m. Parents can help by helping their children arrive on time If a student arrives after 7:55, they will need to go to the main office to get a tardy slip If a student is late or leaves early without a valid reason four times, a written reminder about the attendance policy will be sent to the parent. After six unexcused late or early checkouts, a second reminder will be sent along with a note from the principal. When a student reaches eight unexcused tardies or early checkouts, it will be equal to one unexcused absence and will be indicated as such in Skyward.

Every January the attendance rules for tardies and early checkouts reset with the start of the second semester. Acceptable reasons for being late or leaving early include illness, a doctor’s note, a death in the family, court appearances, religious holidays, approved family or cultural activities, prior approval for travel, parents returning from military service, or other reasons the principal considers acceptable. Unexcused reasons include personal reasons, oversleeping, or trying to skip traffic.

All family trips that cause students to miss school need to be approved by the principal in advance.

6 WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL DC Policy 6 207

Any student withdrawing from school must be cleared through the office All his/her obligations must be cleared before a transcript of his record will be forwarded to his new school. Permanent records and transcripts travel from school to school. We do not relinquish original records to parents, but will be glad to make copies for you when necessary.

7 BUSES DC Policy 3 400

Information about buses and bus routes can be obtained by calling 740-5970. Bus rules and procedures will be sent home separately from the Transportation Department by the bus driver.

8. SCHOOL SUPPLIES

School supply lists are sent home with students at the start of the year. We also post them on the school website and social media a few weeks before school begins. The lists include recommended amounts of supplies, which are based on what is needed throughout the year. We suggest buying these amounts now because they tend to be cheaper. However,

you can send more supplies later if you’d like Please be aware that your child might need to replace some supplies during the year We also mention certain brand names when we ’ ve found those brands work much better Whatever supplies you send, we appreciate your help

9. DRESS AND GROOMING

DC Policy 6.310

The Discovery School has a uniform dress code.

All pants, skirts, jumpers, shorts, and skorts should be black, khaki, or navy blue.

Skirts, skorts, shorts, and jumpers should be knee-length or longer no shorter than your fingertips when your arms are at your sides.

Shirts can be sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved, but they must have a collar.

Turtlenecks are okay.

Sweaters, sweatshirts, or hoodies that are solid in color and have small logos or writing are okay to wear over shirts.

Shirts don’t need to be tucked in, but they shouldn’t hang below the hips

On Fridays and other special days when students can wear casual clothes, the regular Dress Code rules still apply. Also, students must remove hats and hoods when they come inside the building. Clothes should cover the stomach and back and be the right length. Skirts, shorts, and jumpers should be at least fingertip length when arms are down by the sides. Tank tops, dresses with very thin straps (less than 3 fingers wide), and biking shorts aren’t allowed. Clothing should fit properly either not too tight or too loose, and not sagging or drooping. Parents should make sure children aren’t wearing clothes or accessories that promote drugs, alcohol, sex, gangs, violence, tobacco, or disrespectful messages. Headbands and scarves should not be distracting or interfere with learning.

Whenever a student breaks the dress code, we will contact their parents. We appreciate your help in making sure these rules are followed.

Here are some specific rules:

1. All students must take off hats and hoods when they come inside.* Sweatbands, bandanas, visors, scarves, hair accessories with distracting shapes (like kitten ears or unicorn horns), and nose or body piercings (besides ears) are not allowed Sunglasses can’t be worn inside (*We sometimes have “Hat Day” as a special reward )

2. Hair colors like blue, green, pink, bright red, or other unnatural shades, and tattoos that might distract others are not allowed

Hair accessories that are distracting, such as headbands with animal ears, horns, should not be worn. Teachers will decide if something is a distraction.

3. Shoes must be worn from the time children leave home until they come back. Sports cleats (for baseball, soccer, or football) are not allowed for safety reasons. “Heelys” (shoes with wheels) are not permitted. Flip-flops are discouraged

because kids can trip or get things stuck under their feet at school Children should wear proper shoes for PE classes when scheduled

10. RECESS/PLAYGROUND RULES

Recess is an important part of the school day for the social and physical growth and well being of the students We want all children to get to have free play each day and a 40 minute recess period is included in each teacher’s schedule The following rules will be observed when on the playground (please see Behavior Expectations Matrix)

11. CHEWING GUM AND CANDY

Students are not to chew gum or have hard candy during the school day This helps us keep our desks, chairs and floors cleaner. It will also prevent a student from getting choked as easily. Candy or other food items are not to be eaten during the school day other than at appropriate times. Please do not send hard candy or gum to your child’s class.

Students are prohibited from selling any items to other students as a fund raising activity for another group other than our school.

12

We want to create a safe and respectful environment at The Discovery School Our goal is for each child to learn how to take responsibility for their actions. This means understanding that what they do has consequences, and they need to accept those consequences. We don’t want to treat any child unfairly, but we believe it’s important to teach kids about responsibility alongside their rights. We hope you will support us in this effort.

We have two main school rules:

1. Follow directions. 2. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.

The teacher will send home rules and procedures for the classroom. If a student doesn’t follow the rules, the teacher will try different ways to help. If a student continues to ignore the rules, they will be asked to see the principal or counselor as part of a disciplinary process During this time, there will be a discussion about what the appropriate behavior is, why it’s important to follow rules, and other choices the student could make

For students in kindergarten and 1st grade, if they are disciplined, they might spend up to one hour in in-school suspension (ISS) For students in grades 2 through 5, the maximum is two hours in ISS The reasons for returning to the office will be explained If a student in kindergarten or 1st grade is sent to the office again, they might spend two hours in ISS For grades 2-5, the second time could mean up to four hours in ISS If a student is sent again after that, kindergarten and 1st graders may have four hours in ISS, and students in grades 2-5 could spend a whole day there A note will be sent home for you to sign, so you know what happened

Our school follows the rules and procedures about bullying and harassment, which are explained in the Dickson County Policy 6.304. Teachers also use morning meeting time to build a classroom community and help students understand what bullying means.

It’s important to know that conflict between friends is different from bullying. Conflict is a disagreement that happens naturally when two people want different things or see things differently. Usually, conflicts happen in the moment and are part of everyday life. When both people have equal power and can work things out, they often won’t continue to have the same disagreement.

Bullying, on the other hand, is intentional behavior meant to hurt someone The person doing the bullying purposely says or does things to cause harm. There is often a difference in strength or social power between the person bullying and the person being targeted. Bullying can happen once or be repeated over time, and it can take many forms – physical, verbal, or social.

13 TOYS, PHONES and ELECTRONIC ITEMS DC Policy 6 312

Toys like balls, pets, extra money, trading cards, magazines, electronics, DVDs, and CDs should not be brought to school unless the teacher specifically asks for them. This also includes items that could be used as toys, like phones. Kindles or e-readers are okay if the teacher says it’s fine, but students bring them at their own risk. The school is not responsible if they get lost or stolen. Students are in charge of their personal belongings. Phones and smartwatches are not allowed at school. If a student brings a phone or smartwatch during the day, it must stay in their backpack and be turned off. Students are not allowed to call or text using personal devices during school hours.

14. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY DC Policy 6.311

Damaging school property in any way will result in appropriate consequences, and

students will be asked to pay for any damage they cause This rule applies to any items owned by the school, including school buses Sometimes, students may be required to help clean up damage, such as removing marks from walls or cleaning desks

15.

FOOD SERVICES

DC Policy 3.500

Each class will have a 30-minute lunch break. Students will go to lunch in an orderly way at the assigned time They should finish their meal within that time and are not allowed to take food out of the cafeteria

CAFETERIA RULES TDS Behavior Expectations Matrix

No glass bottles should be brought to school If your child brings a drink from home, it should be in a container without glass.

All lunch money should be given to the lunchroom staff for meals or breakfast Please put your child's lunch or breakfast money in an envelope with their full name, their teacher’s name, and their lunch number on the outside. Your child should give this to their homeroom teacher on the first day of the week.

Your child can pay for breakfast each morning when they get in line, or you can pay for a whole week, a month, or a year. Checks should be made out to The Discovery School Food Service.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade are allowed to charge only one lunch in the cafeteria. They cannot charge for extra items or snacks.

Sometimes, extra snacks or special items may be sold in the cafeteria at prices posted there. Dessert is not included in the standard school lunch and may be charged separately.

Breakfast is available each morning from 7:10 a.m. to 7:50 a.m.

16. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

DC Policy 6.403 DC Policy 6.4031

School staff must keep students with certain illnesses or symptoms from coming to school. These include diseases like measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox, head lice, scabies, and any other illnesses the local health officer says need to be kept out of school.

If a student has head lice, the principal or a designated staff member will notify the parents. A note will be sent home explaining what the lice are, what needs to be done before the child can return, and the deadline for completing treatment.

To return to school after having head lice, a school health worker must check the student and confirm they are lice-free. The student must meet all treatment requirements and return to

school within one day after being sent home for lice If the student is out longer than allowed, those days will be considered unexcused and will be reported to the attendance office at the right time

17. REPORTING OF PUPIL PROGRESS

DC Policy 4.601

Each student will get a report card four times a year. These report cards will be sent home after each nine-week period Parents should take some time to look over each part of the report card and praise or encourage their child The report card should be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to school the next day.

Additionally, a mid-quarter report will be sent home each quarter These should be reviewed, signed, and returned to school the day after they are sent home.

Deciding whether a student moves up to the next grade or stays back (promotion or retention) is something that happens every year. The classroom teacher is usually the best person to make this decision. According to school rules, the principal has the final say, but the teacher’s opinion is very important.

When deciding, the teacher will think about how well the student is able to learn, how much they've achieved, and how mature they are. The main thing they look at is whether the student has learned the basic skills required by the Tennessee Department of Education, along with any additional standards set by the local school district. Each student must meet or go beyond these minimum skills to move on to the next grade.

Grading will generally be shown with letter grades:

- A = 90-100 (excellent)

- B = 80-89 (good)

- C = 70-79 (average)

- D = 60-69 (below average)

- F = below 60 (failing)

For kindergarten through second grade, a simple progress report will be used instead of letter grades, and students need to meet certain standards in all areas to be promoted For grades 3 through 5, grades will be given in subjects like Reading, Math, Spelling, English, Science, and Social Studies

In grades 1 and 2, marks like E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), and N (Needs Improvement) will be used to show progress in subjects like Handwriting, Social Studies, Science, Music, Art, and Physical Education. Behavior will also be marked when improvement is needed.

18 USE OF SCHOOL PHONE

A. Students who need to use the phone may do so with their teacher’s permission.

B. Students who wish to see if a friend may come home with them will not be allowed to use the phone. These arrangements should be made prior to coming to school.

19. MESSAGES

Please make sure your child knows where they should go home each afternoon so you don’t need to call us every day. Kids feel more comfortable when they know their usual way home If this plan changes often or if you need to call daily, it can cause confusion and worry for the students Choose one consistent way for your child to go home each day, and only change it when it’s really necessary If you must call us to change plans, please do so before 2:30 p m , because that’s when messages are received We can’t guarantee that changes made after 2:30 will reach your child that same day

If you need to talk to your child's teacher, it’s best to call during their planning time so the teacher can return your call without interrupting their teaching.

20. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DC Policy 6.411

All students are expected to participate in Physical Education (P.E.) classes regularly. If a student cannot join P E due to health reasons, they should inform both their teacher and the P E teacher If a student is unable to take part frequently, a note from a doctor must be given

21. CUSTODY RESTRICTIONS DC Policy 6.209

The school cares about the well-being of every child and will do everything it can to keep them safe. We understand that sometimes there are difficult family situations, such as custody rules set by a court.

If there are any custody restrictions, it is your responsibility to provide the school with a copy of the court order. The school needs this to follow the rules set by the court. We will do our best to respect and follow the court’s instructions.

Please remember, we don’t want to get involved in family disagreements. We only need to know the important information related to the child’s education and safety. When you fill out the enrollment form, be sure to list the people you allow to pick up your child from school.

22. FEES/DONATIONS DC Policy 2.400

We are asking for a $30 00 donation to help cover the cost of supplies and teaching materials These supplies will be different for each class but might include paper, workbooks, reading materials, charts, teaching tools, art supplies, music and library items, physical education gear, and materials for guidance classes Please make this payment by September 1 If your child is eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, they can also have this fee waived.

23. PROCEDURES FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

1. Schools May Not Open

A The School Director checks whether roads are safe before buses start their routes.

B The Director will send a message on Thrillshare and inform local radio and TV stations about the decision, and it will be shared often.

C When schools are scheduled to reopen after closing due to weather, the same steps will be taken to share that information, and the decision will be made as early as possible.

2. Schools Close Early

A. The Director keeps a list of phone numbers for all bus drivers so they can be reached during the day. The Director, working with others across the county, decides if roads are or will become dangerous before the regular closing time.

B. Radio and TV stations will be informed about the early closing time. If you're a parent, listen to local stations in case schools are closing early The schools are notified at the same time as the radio and TV stations

C. If you want your child to go somewhere different than the usual bus stop, please leave those instructions with the school ahead of time This is especially important for young children It’s best to plan these changes in advance, rather than calling the school on the day of the early closing

24. TITLE I and SPECIAL EDUCATION DC Policy 6.500

Title I is a federal program that provides extra support and resources to help students who might find it difficult to meet reading or math standards. Each year, a group made up of teachers, school leaders, and parents decide how to best use these funds for the school. At TDS, the money from Title I is used to hire trained teachers and assistants who work with students one-on-one or in small groups, aiming to help all students succeed.

Special education helps children who have been identified as needing extra support because of disabilities These children might need help in areas like reading, math, spelling, or how they process visual or auditory information The special education team creates a personalized plan for each child, called an Individual Education Plan (IEP), which includes both short-term and long-term goals The main goal is to help students become more independent and succeed in a regular classroom Teachers working with these students communicate closely to ensure everyone is working together Students in special programs are not punished because they spend less time in the regular classroom or are unable to finish all their work They are not required to complete assignments before their special classes begin, and they aren’t penalized or disciplined by losing their extra help time The regular and special education teachers decide how to grade students with an IEP

RTI, which stands for Response to Intervention, is a program the state requires to give extra help to students when they need it. We support this through the Power Learning Block (PLB), a daily 30 or 45-minute session. During this time, students are grouped based on what they need help with and work with different teachers or assistants whether they are regular teachers, Title I staff, special education teachers, or aides. The goal is to create smaller groups for focused, personalized instruction to give students the extra support they need.

25. EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM DC Policy 2.400 DC Policy 4.203

Aftercare is offered to students at The Discovery School It starts at 2:55 p m and ends at 6:00 p.m. The daycare is only for children who are in school and is available during the summer and school holidays. If you want to learn more or sign up, please call our Child Care Site Director at 441-4163 or 490-5807 after 3:00 p.m.

26 VISITOR PASS DC Policy 1 501

All outside school doors are locked from 7:55 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. every school day. This is for the safety of all students and to follow safety guidelines. When you come into the building, please go straight to the office first to get a visitor’s pass. If you need to speak with a teacher, call ahead to set up a time. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe.