ABSENCES

The school office must be notified after your scholar is absent from school, verifying the reason for the absence and the dates the scholar did not attend.  A scholar who misses one to five days in a row must bring a note from a parent/guardian to the office. Any scholar who misses more than five days due to illness must bring a note from a physician.

Please report prolonged illnesses to the school. We need your help in safeguarding other scholars, by informing the school of infectious diseases and by keeping your scholar at home while s/he is contagious. Scholars must be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school.

Scholars returning to school following serious injuries, surgeries or conditions requiring hospitalization must present a written statement from their physician. The note should state that the scholar has permission to attend school, and it should explain any special requirements regarding physical activity. If your scholar is well, please help him/her understand the importance of attending school every day and of arriving at the classroom on time.

We want parents to work with us to reduce non-illness-related absences from school, since our funding is determined by in-seat attendance. Vacations should only be scheduled when school is not in session!

Excused Absences: A scholar shall be excused from school when the absence is due to:

• Illness
• Quarantine
• Medical, dental, optometric or chiropractic services.
• Attending the funeral of an immediate family member e.g., mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, or any relative living in the immediate household of the scholar (one day within the state, three days outside the state)
• Jury duty
• Illness or medical treatment of a scholar of whom the scholar is the custodial parent.
• Justifiable Personal Reasons is when the pupil‘s absence has been requested in writing by the parent and approved by the principal or designee. Absences that fall into this category include, but are not limited to:
• Mental Health Day Treatment
• Appearance in court
• Attendance at a funeral service
• Observance of religious holiday or ceremony
• Attendance at a religious retreat (shall not exceed 4 hours per semester)
• Revoked suspension through appeal‘s procedure
• Attendance at an employment conference
• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Any absence for reasons other than those listed as EXCUSED ABSENCES are unexcused. We are required by law to seek an explanation from the parent/guardian (a written note or verbal justification) regarding all absences within ten (10) days. The scholar may be classified as a truant (refer to Truancy section) and this could be grounds for referral to the Scholar Attendance Review Board (SARB) and to the City or Shelby County Juvenile Court.

ABSENCES FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES

Pupils, with the written consent of their parents or guardians, may be excused from school in order to participate in religious exercises with prior approval by the school principal. Additionally, scholars may be absent to attend a religious retreat, not to exceed four hours per semester. Such absences are considered excused absences, and pupils are responsible for making up missed work.

ALLERGIES

Memphis College Prep has developed a parent packet of information for families where a scholar has mild to severe allergies. Please read the attached PDF on this subject and direct any questions you have to the school nurse or the Principal. Check out our Allergy Parent Packet.

ATTENDANCE

The first requirement for learning is to be in attendance. Attendance is critical to both scholar achievement and the school’s revenue. Each scholar is expected to have an attendance rate of 96% (that’s seven absences per year). Every scholar counts! Please do not schedule family vacations when school is in session. Our categorical funds that flow directly from the State of Tennessee to Memphis College Prep  School are based on the actual attendance. When your scholar misses school for vacations, the school loses money and your scholar loses valuable learning time. Please plan your family’s schedule accordingly.

AFTER SCHOOL

Scholars must leave the school grounds at dismissal time, unless they are enrolled in the Scholar Crew after-school program.

Arrange to pick up your scholar before 6:00p.m, as there is no supervision after that time. If you need to communicate with your scholar about changing the pick-up procedure, please notify the office before 2:00 p.m. The office closes at 4:00 p.m.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

The Governing Board established the following policy regarding birthdays:

Birthdays can be celebrated in the classroom in grades K – 5. The party must be pre-approved by the classroom educator.  You can bring food, treats, or party invitations to school.

BULLYING & HAZING

Memphis College Prep  School is committed to providing a safe and civil learning and working environment. The School takes a strong position against bullying, hazing or any behavior that infringes on the safety and well-being of scholars, employees, or interferes with learning or teaching. We promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance among scholars and staff. All scholars and staff have the inalienable right to attend campuses which are safe, secure and peaceful. Bullying is defined as the deliberate antagonistic action or creation of a situation with the intent of inflicting emotional, physical, or psychological distress. The behavior may be a single or repeated act and may be electronic, indirect, non-verbal, psychological, sexual, social, physical or verbal. Cyber bullying is conducted via electronic communication technology (e.g., texts, e-mails, blogs, postings) and meets the impact of bullying. A person who engages in cyber bullying at school or school-related activities and events is subject to disciplinary action even if the bullying occurred on a personal electronic device. Cyber bullying that occurs off-campus but compromises the safety or instructional environment of the school may fall under MCP jurisdiction.

Hazing is any method of initiation, pre-initiation, or rite of passage associated with actual or desired membership in a scholar organization or scholar body, whether or not it is officially recognized by the educational institution.

 CELL PHONES ON CAMPUS

Adults should be considerate with use of cell phones on campus. If you are volunteering, please keep your phone on silent. If you must answer a call, do so outside the classroom and out of earshot of other scholars. Scholars want our undivided attention, and a cell phone is a distraction for both you and our scholars. Scholars are permitted to bring cellular phones, pagers or electronic devices onto campus provided they remain off and turned in to the Main Office once they arrive at the school.  Scholars are permitted to use them only before or after school or school activities.  Cell phones that are not turned in and visible or audible during the instructional day will be confiscated.  Cameras, smart watches, video games, and all other electronic devices are prohibited.

CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS

At Memphis College Prep  School, we are committed to placing your scholar in the best academic setting. For this reason we have implemented the following policy to insure that your scholar has a happy and successful year.  No requests toward class selection will be granted.

All scholars are grouped into classes according to Memphis College Prep guidelines regarding residence, ethnicity, gender, and special needs.  Class groupings will be organized year-to-year according to the recommendations of educators regarding academic and social levels and will take into account any personality concerns of which educators are aware.  Parents are encouraged to communicate special needs of individual scholars with staff.  At Memphis College Prep, we encourage ongoing dialogue between parent and educator from the first day of school. However, if a parent is dissatisfied with his or her scholar’s placement, they may formally approach the educator after the first three weeks of school. At this time an assessment of the placement will occur between educator and parent. The principal may be asked to attend this meeting.  In the event of irreconcilable differences between the educator(s) involved and the parent(s), the final decision on placement will rest with the principal.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is very important to our community. Please note that in an effort to save paper, our environment, and limited resources, Memphis College Prep communicates primarily through email, our website, and our weekly newsletter, The Chronicle. We encourage open communication and ask you to contact either your scholar’s educator or me directly with any matter or concern. Stay on top of what’s going on at Memphis College Prep. Keeping informed is easy as well as important. Read the e-mails sent by the school, most of which are time-sensitive, read The Owl, our school newsletter, e-mailed to you weekly, listen to messages called home, etc. Regularly visit the Memphis College Prep website for updates on important school events.

COMPUTER USE

Memphis College Prep has been able to acquire technology in the form of laptops. To ensure that scholars will gain the most benefit from these computers for a long time, the Technology Committee and Administration have come up with a policy for the use and misuse of the laptops.

Procedure for checkout from cart and use of laptop computer:

Once a scholar checks out a laptop from the cart, he/she is responsible for the proper case and use of the laptop.

Computer use, including all Internet searches, is for educational purposes only.*

Should a laptop become damaged due to scholar neglect, parents will be responsible for the market price of parts and cost of labor.

SCHOOL-WIDE SCHOLAR RECOGNITION

Positive scholar behavior is recognized in the classroom and school-wide through praise, rewards, special activities, recognitions at monthly assemblies, certificates and notes to parents.

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE

Each educator will develop with his/her class a plan that clearly states classroom standards, rewards for positive behavior and consequences for negative behavior. Parents will be given a written copy of the standards by their educator.

DRESS CODES

All scholars must comply with our uniform policy.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

In the event that there is an emergency, parents should remember that public schools are among the safest buildings in the community. By law, Tennessee public schools are built to a higher standard than other public buildings; therefore, schools will generally have less damage than residential or commercial buildings. Schools also have extensive Fire Life Safety Systems that include fire alarms and sprinkler systems that are designed to protect scholars and staff. In general, schools will respond to emergencies by moving scholars to the safest possible location. During fires or earthquakes, scholars will be moved out of the classrooms to a safe assembly area away from buildings, usually the school field or play yard. During a lockdown or shelter in place, scholars will be moved indoors, to use the buildings as protection.

During an emergency, parents who want to pick up their scholars may be asked to go to the Request Gate located on the school‘s perimeter and show identification. This is a specific location that schools will use to release scholars. Please remember that scholars will only be released to a person whose name is listed on the scholar’s Emergency Card. Parents must make sure that the Emergency Card is current and correct. Please notify your scholar’s school anytime the emergency contact information changes. During a threat of violence, scholars will be sheltered in a locked classroom away from anything that can hurt them. During an emergency when the campus must be protected, parents will not be able to pick up their scholars until the school campus is declared to be safe by law enforcement.

FIELD TRIP POLICY

Field Trips are an important part of curriculum at all grades, K – 5. Visits to such places as museums, galleries, historical areas and neighborhood or community venues have a place in the ongoing activities planned by the educator. They broaden vision, expand knowledge, and provide real life experiences to scholars as they develop the skills and applications in all areas of the curriculum.

Curricular trips are related to the standards-based instruction at each grade level and can be used to motivate, expand, enrich or culminate a unit of study, provided they are incorporated in a timely, meaningful manner.

HOMEWORK

Homework is designed review and practice of skills taught in the classroom. It is meant to instill responsibility, independence, and time management. Homework will to inform parents about scholars’ academic skills and the classroom expectations.

Educators assign homework on a Monday to Thursday schedule according to the following guidelines:

Kindergarten 15-20 minutes per day

Grade 1 30-35 minutes per day

Grade 2 30-35 minutes per day

Grade 3 35-45 minutes per day

Grade 4 35-45 minutes per day

Grade 5 50-60 minutes per day

No homework is given over weekends.

No homework is given over vacations but there may be optional projects/activities.

K-2 scholars do not stay in from recess to complete unfinished homework

3-5 scholars MAY stay in from recess to complete work. They will have time to use the restroom and eat a snack.

Parent role – check homework for completion and quality. Parents should support and encourage only.  All parents will be informed by their classroom educator of the Homework Policy by one or more of the following: Back to School Night, or parent letter.

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

All early pick-ups must be processed through the main office. Any scholar leaving the school grounds other than at regular dismissal time MUST be picked up in the office by a parent or other representative as designated on the emergency card. Please send a note to the educator in the morning if you know you, or any other person you designate, will be picking up your scholar during the day.

LOST AND FOUND

Please label your scholar’s belongings. We want to prevent any arguments regarding ownership of items. It helps to locate lost items as well. Expensive toys, iPods, and other electronic devices may not to be brought to school. Check the lost and found regularly for misplaced items.

PERSONAL PROPERTY

Personal items of value (toys, cell phones, iPods, cameras, electronic games, radios, CD players and computers, etc.) should not be brought to school since loss, theft, or damage is possible. Also, such items can be distracting to the educational process and may be confiscated by school personnel. The School is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

PETS & ANIMALS

School policy states that animals are not allowed on school grounds except for medical reasons. School grounds include access areas such as entrances and exits. Please do not bring animals on to the property or leave them tied up and unattended under any circumstances.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

Scholars may only receive medication during school hours with written requests from a parent/guardian and from the physician who has the responsibility for the medical management of the scholar. Medications will be stored in the school office in the original prescription bottle,, labeled with dosage instructions. No pupil may carry his/her own medication or take medication unsupervised. All requests for medication must be processed through our school nurse.

SECURITY & SAFETY

We need your help in assuring the security of our scholars and school property. All adults, without exception, must go to the main office to sign in before entering school grounds. If you live near the school, we appreciate your watchful eye on the school grounds as you drive by. If you observe any acts of vandalism, please telephone the Memphis Police Department at (901) 545-2677.  You are not required to leave your name or become further involved.

We hold fire drills and other emergency exercises on a regular basis, so scholars learn how to respond to emergency signals. Memphis College Prep continually reviews and reassesses the emergency preparedness plan.

SCHOLAR BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS

Our Governing Board has created clear scholar expectations for behavior for all of our school’s common areas. Please take a moment to discuss these with your scholar. Behavior expectations are posted on the school website and will be reviewed by your scholar’s educator. Your cooperation in our academic efforts and citizenship standards encourages your scholar to obey school rules and solidifies the partnership between home and school.

TARDINESS

The school opens for scholars at 7:45 am each morning. The first bell rings at 8:15 am, when scholars line up and are escorted by their educator to their classroom. The late bell rings at 8:15 am. To be admitted to class after 8:15 am, a scholar must be given a red admission slip in the office. Chronic tardiness will result in referral to the Scholar Attendance Review Board.

TELEPHONE CALLS

We authorize scholars to use the telephone only in an emergency. This keeps classroom disturbance during instructional time to a minimum. Please make an effort to take care of lunch plans, after-school arrangements and other needs before your scholar leaves for school in the morning.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

In order to ensure that our scholars get to school safely and that families do not receive a citation, we are reminding everyone to adhere to the Memphis College Prep Safety policies and signage and to please show up for your assigned traffic safety duty.  You will be reminded of our policies throughout the year.

VALUABLES

The school is not responsible for valuables brought from home. Please do not allow your scholar to bring these items to school unnecessarily.

We are aware that sometimes scholars do not go directly to their homes after school and may need to bring items not normally needed during the school day. If your scholar must have these items at school, please be sure that s/he secures these items with his/her classroom educator or brings them to the office for safekeeping. They will be returned to the scholar after the school day. If these items are in a scholar’s desk, backpack, or on the playground, the school cannot be responsible for damage or loss.

VOLUNTEERS

It is the policy of MCP that all school volunteers must be approved by the School. This includes volunteering for classroom activities, driving on field trips, assisting with school events, etc. Volunteers are a vital resource for many schools. You bring much needed assistance, experience and knowledge to our school on a daily basis and we welcome you to be a part of our school community! All MCP volunteers must complete an MCP School/Office Volunteer Application. In addition, a tuberculosis clearance must take place prior to beginning a volunteer assignment. Volunteers must have written documentation of tuberculosis clearance on file at the school/office prior to beginning an assignment. All volunteers must sign-in at the school office when they enter the school premises and sign out when they leave.

VISITORS TO SCHOOL CAMPUSES

All campus visitors must have the consent and approval of the principal/designee. Permission to visit must be given at the time requested if at all possible or within a reasonable period of time following the request. Scholars who are not enrolled at the school are not to be on the campus unless prior approval of the principal has been obtained. Visitors may not interfere with, disrupt or cause substantial disorder in any classroom or school activity.

Visitors are expected to:

Follow the established school policy in requesting a classroom visitation

Complete a visitor‘s permit upon arrival at the site

Enter and leave the classroom as quietly as possible

Not converse with the scholars, educator and/or instructional aides during the visitation

Not interfere with any school activity

Keep the length and frequency of classroom visits reasonable

Follow the school‘s established procedures for meeting with the educator and/or principal after the visit, if needed

Learn and follow the school-wide behavioral expectations

Return the visitor‘s permit to the point of origin before leaving the campus.

Any individual who disrupts a school site or fails to follow school rules and/or procedures is subject to removal from the school site and may be further restricted from visiting the school.

Board of Directors Meetings:

The Board meets monthly while the school is in session. Board meetings will be held at the school at 12:30 PM (unless otherwise noted) on the last Wednesday of every other month.  Meetings are open to the public.

If you would like to request to join the meeting, email support@memphiscollegeprep.org and a link to the meeting will be sent to you.

 

Approved Foundational Literacy Skills Plan

2023-2024 School Improvement Plan