WELCOME

We, the faculty and staff of East Literature Magnet, hope this year will be the best of your educational career. This handbook will provide you with an understanding of the philosophy, goals, and expectations of our school. These have been established by a committee of teachers, parents, students, and administrators. We ask that you and your parents take the time to become familiar with it. We hope that you will see why we think our school is dedicated to quality education and the development of constructive citizenship. We want your time at ELM to be productive and happy. If, at any time, you do not understand the policies of the school, please contact the office for assistance. The phone number is 262-6947.

HISTORY

East Literature Magnet opened in the fall of 1993 as a school-within-a-school on the campus of East Middle School. In 1997, we opened as a stand-alone school. This literature-based program provides skills for life that are grounded in the written word and part of a framework of cultural diversity and interdisciplinary components. The nucleus of instruction is literary and all academic disciplines, where possible, embrace its thematic structure.  Teachers are facilitators and instructors in an environment where students learn by experience – by reading and doing. Writing, a natural outgrowth of reading, is an integral part of our program. 

High standards for behavior, integrity, and achievement are expected. Students interested in being a part of the magnet program have a commitment to reading. The only tuition is a burning desire to learn.

MISSION

Our mission is to ensure that all students reach academic mastery across all disciplines, embrace a path of lifelong learning and become understanding, productive citizens of society.

BELIEFS

1. We believe that learning is: (a) our focus, (b) a lifelong journey, (c) within thecapabilities of everyone.

2. We believe that students must have a physically and emotionally safe environment in which to learn.

3. We believe that effective instruction includes a variety of assessments.

4. We believe that policies, procedures & organizational structures must support learning.

5. We believe that an effective learning community is one in which family members, school staff and students work cooperatively to make decisions.

ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE

Neither teachers nor administrators are available to supervise students before 7:30 am.

School begins each morning at 8:00 am. Students must be in their homeroom (first period class) at that time. Daily attendance is taken and morning announcements are made at 8:00 am. It is in your child’s best interest to be in the building by 7:45 am. When students enter the building before 7:30 am, they must report to the gym. Students not in their classroom by 8:00 am will be reported tardy. Once a student arrives at school, he/she may NOT leave without permission from the office, regardless of the time of day.

CAR RIDERS – All car riders must be dropped off in front of the building. Students who violate this safety policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Drivers should proceed down Gallatin Road to the entrance of the Magnet School building. Turn into the school driveway and go all the way to the end of the loading zone before unloading.

MTA RIDERS – Most MTA riders will be dropped off in front of the building. Some riders will be dropped off at the library across the street. A patrol mother supervises this intersection. MTA student riders are subject to all the rules and regulations that pertain to any other rider. The MTA maintains the right to deny service to any customer whose behavior is unruly, dangerous, or destructive. The guidelines found in “Student Conduct, Rights, Responsibilities, Rules, and Due Process Procedures” of the Board of Education apply to all students riding the MTA buses.

CONTINUATION AT EAST LITERATURE

Once enrolled at East Literature Magnet School, students continue to the next school year under the following conditions:

1. The continuation form is completed and returned to the school as scheduled in January.

2. The student’s conduct, effort and attendance are acceptable.

SCHOOL CLOSING / STUDENT DISMISSAL

The instructional day ends at 3:00 pm. Following afternoon announcements, MTA riders will leave from the front of the building and proceed, via the center walkway, to the MTA bus stop on Gallatin Road. Car riders will assemble in front of the school. Teachers will be outside to help keep students safe. Car riders should not be picked up on side streets. Students who violate this safety policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Drivers should follow the same procedure as in the morning. Two lanes will be formed beginning where the driveway widens. Teachers will indicate when it is safe to load students. Drivers should not leave their cars. When cars are moving, kids are not! When kids are moving, cars are not!

Reminder: All students must be picked up by 3:30 pm. Neither teachers nor administrators are available to supervise after 3:30 pm. If a one-time problem arises, please contact the office, and let us know. Students who need to be at school after 3:30 pm must be enrolled in the YMCA After-School Program.

Please do not plan to have your child go to the East Nashville Public Library after school.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is not only very important for good scholarship, but also enforced by law. A student cannot receive full benefit from his/her classes if his/her attendance is irregular. The Metropolitan Public School System accepts the following excuses for a student’s absence:

• Death in the family. (No more than three days shall be extended.)
• Special and recognized religious holidays regularly observed by persons of their faith.
• Head lice (3 days per infestation)
• Court appearances or legal mandates
• Documented college visitations for juniors or seniors (3 days per year)
• Personal illness

A written statement from the parent/guardian shall be required on the day of return explaining the reason for each absence. This note should be given to the first period teacher.

A student who has five unexcused absences will be reported to the attendance department.

When a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to go to the teacher and get all makeup work. Work assigned prior to the absence is due the day the student returns to school.

This also applies to tests. That is, if a teacher tells the class on Monday that there will be a test on Friday, and the student is absent on Thursday, he/she will have to take the test on Friday. When a student is absent for more than two days, he/she will need to go to the teacher and work out a plan for catching up.

The Guidance Office will gather homework assignments for students who are absent three or more days if requested by the parent. Requests must be called in to the Guidance Office before 9:00 am. Assignments will be ready for pickup at 3:00 pm.

Students with an excused, justifiable personal absence or who are on a school event or field trip or suspended shall be provided the opportunity to receive assignments missed during the absence and to make up the work upon their return for a grade. Students with unexcused absences shall not be given the opportunity to make up the work.

Any student “skipping” a class will receive a zero for that day’s work and may be suspended.

CONDUCT

All students are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen. Displaying consideration for others and their feelings, treating others with the respect the student would like directed toward him/her, respecting the property of others, and “practicing self-restraint” (both verbal and physical) will result in positive individual and school-wide discipline. Our school will be as good as we desire it to be. The conduct of every student always reflects on the school he/she attends. These expectations begin at the bus stop/car stop and continue on the bus/car, in the hall, classroom, auditorium, grounds, restrooms, gym, cafeteria, and until you arrive back at home each day. Failure to follow rules will result in disciplinary measures which may include reprimand, counseling, parent conferences, in-school suspension, writing assignments, corporal punishment, or suspension from school.

Teachers, administrators, and other responsible adults at East Literature Magnet define proper conduct. Guidelines used are local practices and rules found in the “Student Conduct, Rights, Responsibilities, Rules, and Due Process Procedures” of the Board of Education.

Teachers have full authority at all times and at all places on the campus to correct any student whether the student is in that particular teacher’s class or not. Students are required to respond to ALL adults in a respectable manner.

RULES OF STUDENT CONDUCT

(POLICY OF METRO BOARD OF EDUCATION)

All rules and regulations mandated by the Board of Education and published in the Rules of Student Conduct will be observed and enforced.

STANDARD SCHOOL ATTIRE/DRESS CODE

Dress Code rules apply during school hours and at all school events or school-sponsored activities – Policy of the Board of Education.

Students’ dress and grooming shall be appropriate, clean, and neat. Dress which is disturbing and distracting in school is inappropriate. Clothes and appearance must be safe and not disruptive to the educational process.

• All shirts must have short or long sleeves and must have a collar (polo, dress-style, peter pan or turtleneck).
• Solid shirts of any color are acceptable.
• All pants, shorts, capri pants, skirts, skorts or jumpers must be navy blue, black or any shade of khaki. Denim jeans of any color are not permissible.
• All shirts must be properly buttoned and tucked inside pants, shorts or skirts.
• All clothing must be appropriately sized. Tight fitting, baggy or sagging shirts or pants are not allowed.
• Logos or manufacturer trademarks, if any, must be no larger than two inches. School logos are permitted and are not limited in size.
• T-shirts in any solid color may be worn as an undergarment.
• A single blazer, suit jacket, vest, sweater, or cardigan is permitted as an item that may be worn over the Standard Attire top. These garments may be any solid color. Hooded sweatshirts and other hooded garments are allowed. Hoods may not be used to cover the head at anytime time within the school building.
• Outerwear such as raincoats, windbreakers and cold-weather jackets and coats may not be worn in the school.
• Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Laces on shoes or sneakers must be tied. No house shoes are allowed. Shoes that do not have a back or shoes with very high heels are strongly discouraged at East Literature Magnet School.
• Torn clothing or see-through clothing is prohibited.
• Spiked accessories, oversized jewelry or belt buckles and inappropriate head coverings such as bandanas or do-rags cannot be worn or seen during school time or school functions.
• Official, approved school logo garments may be worn except for sweat pants and team warm-up garments.
• Students must arrive dressed for school. Personal clothing may not be stored at school.
• Students must remain appropriately dressed for the entire school day and for any time they are on the school campus in the hour after the official dismissal for the school day.
• A Dress Code only Friday will be allowed each Friday as long it does not prove to be disruptive and there is maximum compliance of the standard school attire for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

EARLY DISMISSAL

When a student needs to leave school early for any reason, he/she needs a note from home stating the reason, date, time, homeroom teacher, and parent’s signature. The student needs to take the note to the office before 8:00 am. When he/she leaves during the school day, the person picking him/her up MUST sign him/her out in the office. If the student returns during the day, he/she must sign in.

A student, who becomes ill during the day, must be given a permission note to go to the office where he/she may call his/her parent/guardian. School personnel will talk to the parent/guardian. The person designated by the parent to sign the student out MUST come to the office to do so.

GRADES AND REPORT CARDS

The report card, issued to each student each nine weeks, is the school’s method of reporting academic progress, attendance, and conduct to the home. Parents are encouraged to call the school if the report card fails to reach home.

The grading scale used will be as follows:

(100-93) A - Excellent

(92-85) B - Good

(84-75) C - Average

(74-70) D - Poor

(69-0) F -Failure

Promotion is based on acceptable accomplishment in these four areas: grades, basic exit skills, attendance, and standardized tests.

GUIDANCE SERVICES

Guidance is that segment of the school program that provides services based on the student’s social, personal, and educational needs.

Your counselor will help you:

• If you have a problem
• If you are in trouble and need help
• If you need to transfer to another school
• If you want help understanding yourself
• If you want information about careers
• If you desire assistance in finding your interests and abilities
• If you need help in time management
• If you are having trouble developing good study habits
• If you just need someone to talk to

Make an appointment to see your counselor. Make sure you have permission from your teacher.

INSURANCE

Accident insurance may be purchased early in the year for the school day or for twenty-four hour coverage.

All athletes and cheerleaders are required to purchase this insurance or present proof from their parents that they are already covered by personal insurance.

IN-SCHOOL-SUSPENSION (ISS)

In-School–Suspension is an isolation area for disruptive students.

                                                             LOCKERS

Lockers are assigned at the beginning of each year. DO NOT share lockers with anyone. Use only the locker assigned to you. Lockers should be kept locked at all times. If there is no lock on the locker, the school is not responsible for items lost or stolen. If there is a lock on the locker, we will make every effort to help you find lost or misplaced items.

Random locker checks will be held throughout the year by the administration.

MEDIA CENTER

The media center is a place for reading enjoyment and research. You are welcome in the media center, and since it is a place for quiet work, you are expected to be on your very best behavior. You are encouraged to use the media center as often as possible. The media center specialist will be glad to help find the information you need or to suggest books in your field of interest. If it is necessary for you to go to the media center during class time: first, get written permission from your teacher, and then, upon entering the media center, inform the media center specialist of your needs.

Books are checked out for two weeks. A $0.05 per day fine is charged for overdue books. Parents are expected to pay for any lost or damaged books.

MEDICATION

ALL medications must be given to the office for safekeeping during the day. This includes aspirin, Tylenol, etc., and prescription medicines. A “Self-Administration of Medication” form must be filled out and returned for each medication.

PARENT CONFERENCES

A system-wide Parent Conference Day is scheduled each year in October.

Parents or teachers may schedule a conference when either deems it necessary.

Parents should call the Guidance Office to schedule conferences.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

• Students are responsible for their own belongings.
• Students are discouraged from bringing games or toys to school as they interfere with the educational atmosphere of the school and are likely to be lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Skateboards and roller blades are not to be used at school or on the school campus. If these items are needed for after-school activities, students may store them in the office during the school day.
• Tape players, walkmans, radios, etc. may be used before and after school and in the cafeteria during lunch. These items are not allowed in the classroom during instructional time.

PROMOTION / RETENTION FOR

GRADES 5-8

The Board of Education expects students to meet grade level standards and progress through each grade within one school year. Students shall progress through the grade levels by demonstrating growth in learning and by meeting the grade level standards established by the District.

Students not making adequate progress in meeting the District-established criteria will be identified early in the school year. When a student is identified as being at risk of retention, parents will be notified and the student will be provided additional opportunities to learn.

PROMOTION STANDARDS FOR

GRADES 9-12

In order to be promoted to the next grade, students must complete and/or accrue the prescribed minimum number of credits (Carnegie Units) per grade level designated by the Metropolitan Board of Public Education and State of Tennessee:

Schools offering 6 credits per year:

5 credits or more at the end of the 9^th grade

10 credits or more at the end of the 10^th grade

16 credits or more at the end of the 11^th grade

22 credits or more at the end of the 12^th grade

CRITERIA FOR EARNING CREDIT:

In order to be awarded credit, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Student Evaluation/Assessment

a. Grades

b. Daily Work

2. Mastery of Course Objectives
A student must master 70% of the course objectives as defined in system-wide curriculum frameworks.

RELATED ARTS

The ELM Related Arts program provides a variety of opportunities for all students at East Literature Magnet. During his/her time at ELM, a student will be able to experience several Related Arts classes. These classes serve as an introduction to, and background for, future studies in high school and beyond. Related Arts classes may include music, band, chorus, art, technology, and drama.

SPECIAL NOTES

Each child must have an information sheet on file in the office with phone numbers and addresses for emergency use. Should any part of this information change during the school year, please contact the office.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

There are many opportunities for students to participate in special activities at ELM. These may include: Forensics, Writers’ Showcase, Yearbook Staff, School Newspaper Staff, Spelling Bee, Duke University Talent Search, Math Contests, Art Contests, Essay Contests, Interscholastic Sports, Cheerleading, Science Fair, Social Studies Fair, Dessert Theater, Literary Evening, Literary Magazine, Student Technology Leadership Team, and out-of-town trips which may be offered to students based upon academic performance, attendance, and conduct.

STUDENT SUCCESS

The successful ELM student does these things:

1. Attends school and is in each class on time – every day.

2. Fulfills class requirements by completing written work and participating in discussion - every day.

3. Demonstrates respect for and cooperates with all adults in his/her life that helps or looks out for his/her welfare – every day.

4. Is courteous to and respects the rights and property of fellow students – every day.

5. Reads the textbook and any other related materials on topics under study – every day.

6. Goes to bed on time and gets plenty of rest – every day.

7. Eats regular nutritious meals – every day.

8. Has a positive attitude toward school and life – every day.

9. Have necessary materials such as books, paper, and pencil – every day.

Being a successful student is no accident; it is the student’s full-time job.

TARDY POLICY

Students coming to school tardy should go directly to 1^st period. They should present their written excuse signed by parent/guardian to the 1^st period teacher. If they arrive AFTER 8:00 am, they should present their written excuse signed by parent/guardian to the office. Class begins at 8:00 am. We consider punctuality to be very important.

In order to remediate the problem of tardiness, the ELM staff has developed the following semester policy:

1^st Tardy Recorded

2^nd Tardy A letter informing the parent of the 2^nd tardy will be sent home to be signed and returned to the homeroom teacher. The parent will be advised that a 3^rd occurrence will require a conference.

3^rdTardy A phone conference between the parent and the teacher will be required within

five school days of the infraction.

4^th Tardy ISS – One day

5^th Tardy ISS – Two days

6^th Tardy Parent conference with principal

7^th Tardy May lead to suspension

This policy will begin anew each six weeks.

TELEPHONE

The office phone must, out of necessity, be used for school business only. The telephone in the Guidance Office may be used only in case of illness. A student MUST have permission from the Guidance Counselor or secretary to use the Guidance phone. Parents should communicate all plans with their child in the evening or early morning before school starts. Students calling or receiving calls during the school day disrupt the normal learning pattern and can create problems for secretaries, principals, and office workers. In the event of an emergency, the secretary or office worker will take a phone message to the student.

Cell Phone Policy: A student may possess a cellular telephone in school, on school property, at after school activities and at school-related functions, provided that during school hours, and on a school bus, the cell phone remains off and must be concealed.

Possession of a cellular telephone by a student is a privilege, which may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by the terms of this policy.

Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action against the student which may result in confiscation of the cellular telephone.

The student who possesses a cellular phone shall assume responsibility for its care. At no time shall Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools be responsible for preventing theft, loss, or damage to cell phones brought onto its property.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks are furnished by the Board of Education. Students are expected to take care of these books and return them in good condition at the end of the year. Replacing lost or damaged books is the responsibility of the student. Each student shall be furnished one textbook or one set of books in any one school year. If a student misplaces a book, he/she must pay for the lost book before he/she is eligible to receive a second book of the same title.

ID BADGES

1. Students must have an ID badge on their person at all times while on school grounds during the school day. Students, who do not have an ID badge, may be denied admission to school grounds and other school events.

2. Students must present their ID badges to a school official upon request.

3. Students who display their ID badges during school hours may be eligible for random incentives at school discretion.

4. Students, who repeatedly fail to have ID badges, will be subject to more severe sanctions/consequences.

5. ID badges are not hall passes. However, students may be required to show their ID badge in addition to the school’s hall pass policies.

6. Schools may require ID badges to be used to access school programs such as library, food service, and other functions as technology-based applications increase.

7. Schools may charge a $5.00 fee for replacement of lost ID badges.

Parents are asked to support this initiative by helping to insure that their child has the ID badge every day.

VISITORS

Upon their arrival, all visitors must register in the office. Metro’s policy is to accept only those visitors who have legitimate business at the school. Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to make appointments for teacher conferences. A parent who wishes to visit his/her student’s classroom must check in with an administrator or counselor first.