Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 BELLEVUE MIDDLE SCHOOL 2010-2011 Teacher Hand Book 20102011 This document provides an overview of Bellevue Middle School‘s goals, objectives, mission and vision. It also reviews administration, teacher, and staff responsibilities and procedures. This hand book also includes important dates and deadlines. Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview of the BMS Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2010-2011 Faculty and Staff Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Professional Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classroom Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Financial Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 MCS Calendar of Important Dates for 2010-2011 . . . . . . . . . . 12 Request for Personal Leave/Absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 BMS Student Tardy Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Request for Technical Assistance Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BELLEVUE MIDDLE SCHOOL KEVIN MALONE, PRINCIPAL 575 South Bellevue Blvd. Memphis, TN 38104 Phone (901) 416-4488 Fax (901) 416-4490 2 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 OVERVIEW OF THE BMS PHILOSOPHY OUR VISION Our vision is for Bellevue Middle School to continue to operate as a high-performing educational institution which consistently meets the academic needs of all students so they are ultimately able to think critically, read proficiently, write competently, reason clearly, and communicate effectively while developing the skills necessary to become productive and perpetual life-time learners. OUR COMMON MISSION Our mission is to produce a respectful, safe, encouraging, and rigorous learning environment where all students are able to learn and develop their strengths as their academic, social, emotional, and physical developmental needs are met. OUR BELIEFS: · All students have the potential to learn and are given the opportunity to develop their strengths and talents to the highest potential. · The cultural diversity of the student body enhances the school’s programs and increases the exposure and knowledge of different nationalities and cultures. · Classroom management strategies promote a safe, respectful and comfortable environment to encourage student ownership of learning. · Character education is an integral and continual component of whole-child education. OUR COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: · The community, parents, teachers, and students share in the responsibility of developing productive citizens in our community, state, and nation. · Effective communication for policy implementation by all stakeholders is essential to reach higher levels of student achievement, promote student-centered programs, and continued growth and development. · Through the use of state-of-the-art technology, students are given opportunities to enhance their learning experiences. OUR GOALS FOR TEACHERS: · Curricular and program decisions are student-centered and promote academic achievement. · Instructional planning is collaborative and based on current student achievement data. · Teaching strategies are varied to meet the needs of all students. · Instructional time is utilized to produce quality student work and promote student-centered learning. · Projects and assignments address specific goals related to class content. · Assessment and evaluation techniques are differentiated, based on sound research, and used to differentiate instruction. · Meaningful professional development is essential to continuous improvement. 3 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 BMS 2010-2011 FACULTY AND STAFF DIRECTORY BMS ADMINISTRATION Malone, Kevin West, Martha Jones, Lavona Freeman, Montanique Principal Assistant Principal Instructional Facilitator Guidance Counselor Main Office 1st Floor/Old Guidance 3rd Floor/Title One Rm. 1st Floor/105 61460 61461 61459 61491 BMS STAFF Dorsey, Anika Hobson, Mary Payne, Brenda Hill, Cameron Williams, Ronald Student Records Secretary Attendance Secretary Financial Secretary Building Engineer Cafeteria Manager Main Office Student Services Student Services 2nd Floor/Right of Stage 1st Floor/Cafeteria 61470 61465 61463 61465 61468 BMS FACULTY Allen, Nona Allgood-King, Rashida Brown, Patricia Chipman, Jeffrey Cochran, Dianne Coleman, Valerie Corder, April Dease, Chris Demster, Michael Harris, Bryon Harris, Leslie Helton, Turkeisha Jackson, Tamora Jan, Adan Killebrew, Bonnie King, Janice Lewis, Jeremy McCadney, Rubina Patterson, Angela Poe, Melody Rezos, Jane Ross, Cameron Ruder, Melissa Street, Linda Thiam, Khaly Thomas, Monica White, Gwendolyn Willis, Reed Wilson, Doris Woodard, Lytisha Woods, Eddie New Teacher 1st Floor/Rm. 107 1st Floor/Rm. 103 3rd Floor/Rm. 310 1st Floor/Rm. 110 2nd Floor/Rm. 210 3rd Floor/Rm. 307 2nd Floor/Rm. 203 3rd Floor/Rm. 303 Drama/Creative Writing 7th Algebra/Mathematics 8th Social Studies Choir 8th Social Studies 7th Science 6th Reading/Read 180 8th Algebra Resource/Inclusion Health/P.E. 7th-8th Read 180/Lang. Arts 8th Language Arts 6th-7th Mathematics/Algebra ESL 7th Language Arts 7th-8th CLUE 7th Social Studies 6th Science 8th Science Librarian 8th Algebra Band Director Spanish Health/P.E. ESL 6th Mathematics/Algebra 7th Social Studies/Lang. Arts Art Teen Living 6th -7th CLUE 6th Social Studies 6th Language Arts Gym/Rm. 100 2nd Floor/Rm. 206 3rd Floor/Rm. 306 2nd Floor/Rm. 208 1st Floor/Rm. 106-107 2nd Floor/Rm. 209 1st Floor/Rm. 104B 3rd Floor/Rm. 304 2nd Floor/Rm. 202 3rd Floor/Rm. 301 3rd Floor/Library 3rd Floor/Rm. 305 Band Room/Band Bldg. 1st Floor/Rm. 109 Gym/Rm. 100 1st Floor/Rm. 106-107 2nd Floor/Rm. 205 1st Floor/Rm. 101 1st Floor/Rm. 108 1st Floor/Rm. 104 1st Floor/Rm.104B 2nd Floor/Rm. 201 2nd Floor/Rm. 204 3RD Floor/rm. 302 COMPUTER LAB 4 30869 30878 30885 30876 30864 30888 30872 30886 30894 30871 30891 30868 30869 30866 30881 30884 30873 30890 61479 30883 61481 30874 30894/61475 30869 30870 30880 30867 30881 30881 30875 30877 30 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 GENERAL INFORMATION PARKING Faculty parking is provided in rear of the school for all faculty members. SIGN IN Being on time is important to each employee’s success as well as the overall success of Bellevue Middle School. Setting good examples for the students is the first step to building strong and meaningful relationships. The teacher sign-in sheet will be available from 7:00 a.m. until 7:15 a.m. After that, the sign-in sheet will be available in the principal’s office. At 7:15, the students enter the building, and it is critical that every teacher be in his or her work area to greet the students and monitor behavior. The workday for most of the BMS staff lasts well beyond the required hours; however, the official day ends at 2:30, unless there is a scheduled faculty or team meeting. Wednesdays are permanently set aside for those meetings. In addition, all faculty members are encouraged to attend extracurricular activities. All open houses, parent teacher conferences and in-service activities are considered part of the normal working day. MAILBOXES Teacher mailboxes are housed in the main office. It is recommended that boxes be checked daily at “sign in” and at the beginning and end of your planning period. MESSAGES AND CELL PHONES Personal phone calls should be kept to a minimum. Each teacher’s work in the classroom is important, and administration’s goal is to avoid any interruption in that process. Unless there is a true family emergency, messages will be taken and placed in the teacher’s box. EMERGENCY DRILLS Creating and maintaining a safe environment that promotes learning requires a proactive approach. It is necessary to engage in simulations of potential hazards and natural disasters that could affect the health and safety of the staff and students. Every teacher is provided a crisis manual detailing the roles and responsibilities of each staff member. Please make yourself familiar with this manual and your responsibilities. EXTRA-CURRICULUR ACTIVITIES SCHEDULED DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME Planning is important to the success of any teacher. Activities that require students to miss classes seriously impact that planning. It is very important that teachers have a minimum one week notice when students must be removed from instruction ( athletics, band trips, choir trips, contests, etc.). We are all committed to flexibility and supporting each other’s work, but effective planning can help maintain effective work relationships. Sponsors requiring students to deviate from their regular schedules are responsible for informing the faculty which students will be involved and for how long. 5 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 SCHOOL-WIDE CALENDAR The school wide calendar may be accessed from our school website. If you have any events that need to be included on this calendar, please get that information to Ms. Corder (Rm. 203) via hard copy or email. PROFESSIONAL TASKS ABSENCES Our goal is that every teacher will report to work each and every day ready to provide the best instruction possible for our students. Setting a good example for our students will go far in our quest to maintain the attendance requirements for NCLB. Every teacher is afforded two personal days to use at their discretion. Please check with the administration prior to using those days. Certain activities at school may require securing a more conducive day for personal leave. If you must miss a day of school, please secure a substitute and contact an administrator by phone or email prior to your absence. If your absence is not entered into the smart find system, you nor your substitute will get paid. DRESS We never get a second chance to make a first impression. Professional dress is every teacher’s visual proclamation that they take their job seriously and have high expectations for their students in the classroom. Because our students are not allowed to wear any form of denim, it is important that we set the example by not wearing denim in any style or color. Please remember, “If you think that an outfit might be inappropriate professional attire, you are probably correct.” EVALUATION Non-tenured teachers are evaluated every year. The evaluation process involves three observations, self evaluation, educator information record, unit plan, summative and a future growth plan. These evaluations are scheduled and need to be completed no later than one week prior to the submission date. Tenured teachers are evaluated on a rotation basis. Teachers scheduled for evaluation will be notified in writing by the principal. Tenured teachers are required to follow the same format for evaluation. A minimum of two scheduled classroom observations is required. A unit plan may be required at the discretion of the principal. All evaluations are taken very seriously and are intended to encourage the use of best practices in the classroom. These evaluation procedures are subject to change. 6 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 PLANNING PERIODS Maintaining the educational integrity of Bellevue Middle School requires commitment and planning on the part of the teachers. Planning effective instruction takes time and must be purposefully spent. Conferences, team meetings and coverage of classes for colleagues are also integrated into this planning period. Thankfully, covering classes for teachers who have no substitute is unusual. It is Essential that teachers remain on campus throughout the school day. If a teacher must leave campus for any reason, we ask that you sign out in the main office. Should an emergency arise, address the need with the principal or his designee. NINE WEEK SYLLABI The district is requiring all secondary teachers to submit nine week syllabi this school year. (HOW AND WHEN) EMERGENCY LESSON PLAN A set of emergency lesson plans will need to be kept in Mrs. West’s office when unexpected absences arise. These plans will need to be updated on a regular basis. Any copies needed must be supplied with the lesson. (See Mrs. West) ASSIGNED DUTIES Every teacher is assigned morning, afternoon and hall duty primarily to monitor the arrival, dismissal and hourly movement of students throughout the building. Every teacher is expected to actively and positively monitor students to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Homeroom activities will be conducted at the beginning of the first academic period. Homeroom teachers will monitor dress code compliance. When attending assemblies in the auditorium, teams will sit in assigned areas. ADVISORY/CHARACTER EDUCATION All homeroom classes will participate in character education unit/lesson. These units/lessons will focus on three things: personal Integrity, workplace literacy, and civic awareness. Throughout the school year Ms. Freeman will schedule advisory character education lessons to be taught by homeroom teachers during first period. RECORD KEEPING Grade books, attendance and grade scanners are official school documents. Accuracy is critical. Attendance should be entered by 8:15. Daily class attendance should be entered shortly after the beginning of each class. Students should not complete any of the documents considered for teacher use only. A hard copy of attendance must be kept for each class. 7 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 CONDUCT DOCUMENTATION It is imperative that all inappropriate conduct is documented. Please make detailed notes of any misconduct exhibited by students. Include the date of the occurrence, what specifically occurred, and what actions were taken. All of this data can be entered into the new MCS behavior logs. EMAIL The Memphis City School system has set up email accounts for every teacher. It is recommended that you check your email at least three times a day. Most correspondence coming from the administration and from the district will be via email. CLASSROOM GUIDELINES INSRUCTIONAL TIME We all agree that instructional time is vital to student success. We ask that students not be released from the classroom during the first ten minutes of class or during the last ten minutes of class. If students are released at any time or for any reason, please make sure they have a hall pass. PHONE USAGE IN CLASSROOMS Students are to use the phone in the classroom for emergency purposes only. Emergency usage should be authorized by the administration in the form of announcements from the office (such as an afterschool activity cancelled or time changed). Calls home to arrange for early checkouts or to report illness should be made from Pupil Services only. Calls made to alert parents of forgotten items can be made from the classroom under the teacher’s supervision. Please supervise the student during use of the phone. Under no circumstance should cell phones be used by students. With this in mind, teachers should model this expectation by not using cell phones during instructional time. SUPPLIES/COPIES It is very important to this administration that every teacher has adequate supplies to enhance the academic growth of every student. General supplies are kept in instructional facilitator’s closet and next to the office. Every regular program staff teacher is allotted $200 per year for purchasing supplies not provided through the main office. The staff may choose to designate a portion of these monies to help offset the cost of operating and maintaining copiers. 8 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 OFFICE REFERRALS Maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning in the classroom is the responsibility of the teacher and the team. A school-wide discipline plan is in place but it is only as effective as the individual classroom teacher’s plan and collective team plan. It is essential that the teacher’s plan compliments the team’s plan and ultimately the school-wide plan. If a student continues to disrupt the educational process after the parent has been contacted, the teacher should refer that student to the administration for intervention. A discipline referral form should contain information detailing the behavior and outlining the teacher’s efforts to change the behavior. For each referral, please attach all documented interventions that both you and the team have attempted. MAKE-UP WORK POLICY Students shall be permitted to make up all work and classroom tests missed as a result of an excused or unexcused absence; work must be made up no later than a week after the student returns to school. A student’s failure to make up missed work and tests will result in those being averaged with the student’s other grades. Each make-up work assignment for unexcused absences shall be marked down one letter grade. Students will also be allowed to make up work during Saturday School. EXCUSED ABSENCES: 1. Personal illness of the student. 2. Death or serious illness in the immediate family. 3. Validated court appearance of student. 4. Recognized religious holiday. 5. Any other unusual cause acceptable to the principal. ZAP (ZEROS ARE NOT PERMITTED) ZAP Provides opportunities for students to be successful. Teachers should continually preach ZAP and encourage students to meet and exceed expectations. NEW DISTRICT GRADING CRITERIA: 10% Homework 20% Class Participation 30% Class work/Daily Work 20% Assessments/Tests 20% Projects 9 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 SATURDAY SCHOOL Saturday School is another opportunity for students to be successful. Students who have missing work, or who are failing will have the chance to attend Saturday School. The week before the designated Saturday, administration will send home notification to parents stating that their child has been assigned Saturday School. Additionally, teachers must provide all copies of tests, worksheets, and packets, as well as thorough instructions and a list of all students expected to attend. The students will turn in completed work, and these assignments will be averaged with the students’ current grade. HOMEWORK POLICY The administration of Bellevue Middle School closely follows the Board of Education’s philosophy regarding homework assignments. The entire policy can be downloaded from the Memphis City Schools’ website. Team planning is very helpful in assigning homework, tests, and long term projects. These assignments should compliment and assess the material covered by the teacher. Homework should never be used to cover new content. Teachers should not assign homework during scheduled holidays and vacations. Our students work very hard and deserve time recuperating with their families. Enrichment work may be given as warranted. STUDENT AGENDAS Organization skills are crucial to the success of our students. It is important to integrate the use of student agendas into the day-to-day procedures of your classroom. In addition, we need to factor the use of agendas into our daily/participation grading procedures. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES Please follow proper procedures when equipment must be repaired or serviced. Ms. Poe will be your contact for toner and/or ink cartridges for your printers. All issues involving equipment repairs and service must also be submitted to IT services (Mr. Brown). All technical issues must be documented in the IT servicing website found on our school home page or by typing in “HD” in any school networked computer. Please contact Ms. Poe for more assistance with IT services. 10 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 FINANCIAL TASKS PURCHASING It is very important that each teacher has what is needed to be successful in the classroom. Equally important is the need to focus spending on the needs of the students. Careful consideration must be given to purchases in order to justify their impact on student achievement. Plan purchases well in advance in order to submit justification for spending school funds on a requisition form obtained from Mrs. Payne in the financial office. Money spent without prior approval will not be reimbursed. RECEIPT BOOKS Every teacher must maintain impeccable records as he/she records financial transactions with students. Monies collected from students must be submitted to Mrs. Payne no later than 9:00 a.m. daily. Do NOT leave money in your rooms at any time. All money collected must be receipted and turned into the office each day. FUNDRAISERS Fundraisers are vital to many programs at Bellevue Middle School. The principal must approve all fundraisers prior to initiation. A plan outlining implementation and how profits will be used is required. 11 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 MCS CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2010-2011 Date(s) August 2 August 3 Day(s) Monday Tuesday August 4 August 5 August 6 August 9 September 6 October 7 October 8 October 11 Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Monday Thursday Friday Monday November 11 November 24-26 December 14-16 December 17 Dec. 20th-31st January 3 Thursday Wed.-Friday Tues.Thursday Friday Mon.-Friday Monday January 17 February 1 February 21 Monday Tuesday Monday March 8 March 14-18 April 11-15 April 22 April 28 May 3-5 May 20 May 23-24 Tuesday Mon.-Friday Mon.-Friday Friday Thursday Tues.-Thurs. Friday Mon.Tuesday Event In-Service Day Admin. Day /Registration8-3; 6-8 P.M. In-Service Day In-Service Day Adm. Day First Day of School Labor Day First Quarter Ends Fall Break ½ In-Service (12-3) ½ Parent Teacher Conference (4-7 P.M.) District-wide ThinkShow Thanksgiving Break Exams for First Semester Students out Teachers out 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 1 Day 3 Days 3 Days Administration Day Winter Break Classes Resume 1 Day 10 Days Return from Break 1 Day Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Holiday TCAP Writing Assessment ½ In-Service (8-11) ½ Parent Conference (12-3 P.M.) ACT Test Spring Break 5 Days TCAP Achievement Tests Good Friday 1 Day District-wide ThinkShow GATEWAY TESTING Last Day of Classes Admin. /In-Service Day (could be instructional days in the event of inclement weather, In-Service and Admin. Days will be rescheduled). 12 10 Days 1 Day 5 Days 1 Day Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 REQUEST FOR PERSONAL LEAVE/ABSENCE Please complete and return the following at least 48 hours before the dates you plan to be absent. After approval is given, please submit your absence on the SEMS Website (webcenter.mcsk12.net) and secure a substitute for your classes. TEACHER: _________________________________________________________ DATE(S) REQUESTED: _________________________________________________ REASON FOR ABSENCE: (Please check one) ____ Personal Illness ____ Personal Day (ONE PER SEMESTER) _____ Illness in Immediate Family _____ Attending Professional Meeting Purpose/Title of Meeting _______________________________ _____ Other (Please specify.) _________________________________ SUBSTITUTE ARRANGEMENTS: (Please check one) _____I have secured a substitute for this absence. JOB # _____________ Name of Substitute__________________________ Substitute’s Phone Number ____________________ _____I have not secured a substitute for this absence, but I will notify you when I do. Authorized by ____________________________________________________ *Reminder: Be sure to leave detailed plans for the substitute including the team members’ information for emergencies. 13 Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 STUDENT TARDY FORM Date Signature TEACHER__________________________ Reason Period 14 Grade Bellevue Middle School 575 South Bellevue Memphis, TN. 38104 REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Date Signature Period TEACHER: ________________ Problem 15