Norris Elementary

1. Norris Elementary 1490 Norris Road Memphis, Tennessee 38106

2. Guiding Principles • All children can learn. • Students thrive when high standards and high levels of expectations are communicated to every student. • Consistent effort and consistent attendance results in high achievement. • Collaborative efforts by administration, teachers, staff, parents, community, and students increase chances for academic and social achievement. • Varied assessments increase student’s performance • Implementation of effective teaching strategies and best practice improve student learning • Meaningful professional development is essential to effective implementation of research based strategies to increase student achievement • Lasting improvement is an effect of collaborative effort and participation in decision making processes by stakeholders • Adherence to board, federal, state, and school policy ensures that the operations of the school are in the best interest of creating a healthy, safe, and productive learning environment

3. Vision • Norris Elementary School administration and staff set high expectations and standards for all students at our school. We create, develop, and implement new strategies, ideas, and best practices through on-going staff development, grade level meetings, and cluster sharing. Students participate in hands on activities, problem solving, authentic learning, creative writing, and activities that foster differences in learning styles. Teachers evaluate learning with the use of authentic assessments, oral responses, cooperative/cross-grade grouping, and written assessments. • A safe environment and an enriched based curriculum ensure that all children succeed socially and academically. Parental involvement, a community support system, qualified and dedicated teachers, and an instructional leader ensure that the vision for Norris Elementary School is embraced and that our students are prepared throughout the 21st Century.

4. Mission • Our mission is to establish a safe and positive learning environment in which all students will experience a variety of diverse educational activities that promote analyzing, reasoning, self-discovery, risk-taking, and critical thinking. We will prepare all students to be successful citizens in the 21st Century.

5. Philosophy Statement • All students can learn and become successful productive citizens of the 21st Century. A unified staff that is well focused on the school, district, and state goals will produce students who are educationally prepared, technologically skilled, and socially/mentally adjusted. • At Norris Elementary School, we believe that all children have a right to a good education in a safe environment. We also believe that teacher expectations have a direct relationship to student performance and learning.

6. Goals and/or Objectives • To decrease suspensions by 5% • To decrease office referrals by5?% • Increase student attendance from 95% to 96% • Increase parental involvement by 10% • Decrease tardies by 5% • Decrease early dismissals by 5%.

7. School Procedures • Students may enter the building when the door is opened by the principal or building engineer at 7:00 a.m. and go directly to the cafeteria. • All students should be dismissed at the 2:15 p.m. dismissal time. If students are kept after dismissal time, prior notification must be given to the principal and the parents. • The total lunch time has been set for 30 minutes, which allows 5-10 minutes of serving/seating time and 20-25 minutes of eating time. • Programs will usually start at 1:00 p.m. for all grades. Please have students seated before the start of the program and ensure that they maintain satisfactory behavior. Based upon scheduling, some programs may be scheduled in the (a.m.) or (p.m.) of the school day. However, you will be notified in advance. • Each teacher should handle all routine classroom discipline problems in the room and follow-up with parent conferences when necessary. • Any severe discipline problem should be brought to the attention of the principal immediately.

8. Classroom Procedures Morning (A.M.)/7:30 – 7:45 Put up backpacks & coats and take out books and paper needed for morning assignments/classes. Pencil sharpening at least 3 pencils per student. (designated student) Turn in all homework/student planners to it’s designated place. Give all notes and money to teacher. (Bookstore) All students should be seated and ready for morning announcements. Afternoon (P.M.)/After Lunch Restroom Break Re-sharpen pencils Put a.m. books in locker and retrieve p.m. books End of Day/1:50 p.m. Assign homework and check student planners and initial. All students must be dismissed at 2:15 p.m. All Teachers must walk out the front door with their students. All Teachers must remain out front until 2:30 p.m. to monitor students at dismissal throughout the campus. Any students remaining after 2:30 the teacher must call parent/guardian. No Teachers may leave off campus before 2:30 p.m. If a teacher has a problem with daycare picking up students after 2:30 p.m. please notify the office after you have already talked to daycare.

9. School Rules • Follow directions the first time given. • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. • Talk to schoolmates with respect; without teasing, name calling, or cursing. • Treat all adults with respect.

10. How we teach the rules and procedures • Grade level discipline assembly the Tuesday after Labor Day. • Teacher Modeling • Role playing • Student/Parent Handbook • Parent Meeting (Thursday after Labor Day & 1st six weeks report card night)

11. Program Elements • Student Patrol • Elite Eagles Club (E and S+ conduct students only)

12. Character Education • Elite Eagles Club • Etiquette Class • Character Trait of the month • Faculty & Staff/Student Mentor “Each One Reach One” (Behavior, Academic or Emotional challenged)

13. School Safety Plan • Fire Drill Instructions • Take Cover Drill • Medical Emergency Procedures

14. School Discipline Plan • Step One-Teacher 1st offense- verbal warning 2nd offense- parent communication (written and/or verbal) 3rd offense – Required Teacher/Parent Conference • Step Two – Guidance Counselor 1st referral – student counseling (15 -30 minutes) 2nd referral – student/parent conference Must schedule with guidance • Step Three – Principal 1st referral – parent phone call and/or mandatory conference 2nd referral – Mandatory Conference with parent, student & teacher All Documentation from teacher, guidance counselor & parent must be with student 3rd referral – Home suspension (number of days to be determined by principal) An infraction of the MCS zero tolerance policy can and will lead to an immediate home/board suspension

15. Monitoring Process • Behavior Log (Daily calendar to be initialed by teacher & parent) • Parent communication log • Guidance Counselor (Student counseling on specific behavior patterns) • Any Referral Forms

16. Action Steps • Verbal Warning • One on one teacher conference with student • Phone call and/or letter to parent • Mandatory parent conference with teacher note: (parent will meet with guidance counselor following teacher conference) • Referral to Principal (parent, student and teacher conference with principal) • Referral to school support team for behavior intervention plan • Home Suspension

17. Prevention Model • Post classroom procedures to ensure all students are actively engaged in learning throughout the day. • Post rewards /consequences for behavior • Group Pow Wow – class discussion about a conflict that is occurring. Come together as a group to discuss the problem. This de-escalates the conflict. (1st meeting lead by teacher) • “Each One Reach One” – Faculty/Staff Mentor • Character Education • The Elite Eagles

18. Intervention Plan • “Each One Reach One” – Faculty/Staff Mentor • Conference (Teacher, Student, Counselor, Parent or Principal) • School S-Team

19. Evaluation

20. Celebration • School (dance & pizza party) • Students will be allowed to be a member of the Elite Eagle Club as long as they maintain an E or S in conduct. • Special awards and privileges will be given to students. • Most improve student (Behavior)

21. Parent/Community Involvement • Report Card Pick-Up Night • Quarterly Parent Meetings • Parent Patrol • Adopters/Students Tutoring & Mentoring

22. Faculty/Staff Signature Approval Page Yolanda Jordan - _____________________ Kathryn Wilson -______________________ Laverne Plunkett -_____________________ Nancy Fahrmann - ____________________ Sharon Taylor -_______________________ Valena Galbreath - ____________________ Maudeva Wilson - ____________________ Michelle Walton - ___________________ Darois Libby - ______________________ Ora Irving - _________________________ Carolyn Williams - _________________________ George Ross - ____________________________ Charolotte Martin - ___________________________

23. Faculty/Staff Signature Approval Page Linda Ashford - ____________________________ Candrace Carter - __________________________ Dusharme Longmire - ___________________________ Latoni Haley - _________________________________ Bridgit Thomas - _____________________________ Tamara Turner - ____________________________ DeShannon McConnell - ___________________________ Sonja Redden - _______________________________ Audrean Bond - ______________________________ Soudabeh Alikhani - ____________________________ Sylvia Hines - _____________________________ Jacquelyn Ford -________________________________

24. Faculty/Staff Signature Approval Page Mocha Walker - _____________________________ Ada Kelley - _______________________________ Beverly Reed - _____________________________ Patrice Livingston -____________________________