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The Soulsville Charter School

Staff Reference Guide2011-2012 School Year

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ContentsOur Culture....................................................................................................................................................7

Mission Statement......................................................................................................................................7Creed..........................................................................................................................................................7

Core Values................................................................................................................................................7Commitment to Excellence........................................................................................................................8

Guiding Principles at TSCS.......................................................................................................................9School Identity.......................................................................................................................................9

Broken Window/Stained Glass Window Theories..................................................................................10Grammy System.......................................................................................................................................10

Purpose.................................................................................................................................................10Grammy System Details......................................................................................................................10

Grammy Recording..............................................................................................................................12Clipboards............................................................................................................................................12

Daily Entry of Grammy Information...................................................................................................12Rewards................................................................................................................................................12

Grammy Auctions................................................................................................................................13Gold/Platinum Wristbands...................................................................................................................13

Behavior Notification and Referral Process............................................................................................13School Spirit.............................................................................................................................................14

Description of School Spirit Edifiers...................................................................................................14Policies Concerning Students......................................................................................................................14

Lunch with teachers.................................................................................................................................14Cell Phones..............................................................................................................................................15

Official Cell Phone Policy...................................................................................................................15Lockers.................................................................................................................................................16

Pencils..................................................................................................................................................16Voice Codes and Speaking..................................................................................................................16

Field Trips............................................................................................................................................17Hall Passes for Students.......................................................................................................................18

Student Phone Calls.............................................................................................................................18Student Planners...................................................................................................................................18

Student Attendance..............................................................................................................................18Tardy / Absent Students.......................................................................................................................19

Uniforms..................................................................................................................................................19Enforcing Uniform Policy....................................................................................................................19

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Middle School Uniform Policy............................................................................................................19High School Uniform Policy...............................................................................................................21

Student Contact Information................................................................................................................22PROCEDURES............................................................................................................................................23

Entering the Building...............................................................................................................................23Breakfast Procedure.................................................................................................................................23

Hallway Transitions.................................................................................................................................24Exiting the Building.................................................................................................................................24

Classroom Entry Procedure.....................................................................................................................24Restroom Procedure.................................................................................................................................25

Passing in Papers......................................................................................................................................25Sitting in Classrooms...............................................................................................................................25

Lunch Procedure......................................................................................................................................25Special 8th Grade Procedures..................................................................................................................26

Classroom Seating Arrangements............................................................................................................26Food and Snack........................................................................................................................................26

Academics....................................................................................................................................................27Grading................................................................................................................................................27

Lesson Plans.........................................................................................................................................28Weekly Quiz........................................................................................................................................28

Observation-Debrief Cycle..................................................................................................................28Lesson Plans When Teacher Is Out.....................................................................................................28

Homework................................................................................................................................................29Deductions for Missing Work..............................................................................................................29

Standard Heading for Assignments.....................................................................................................29Honor Code..............................................................................................................................................30

Cheating and Plagiarism......................................................................................................................30Daily Responsibilities for Teachers.............................................................................................................31

Community Meeting................................................................................................................................31Announcements........................................................................................................................................31

Weekly Newsletter...................................................................................................................................31Daily Attendance.....................................................................................................................................31

Common Board Configuration (CBC).....................................................................................................31Do Now................................................................................................................................................31

Objective..............................................................................................................................................32Agenda.................................................................................................................................................32

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Homework............................................................................................................................................32WOW – Word of the Week.................................................................................................................32

Policies Concerning Staff............................................................................................................................33Teacher and Staff Conduct.......................................................................................................................33

Being alone with students....................................................................................................................33Interactions with students....................................................................................................................33

Interactions with parents......................................................................................................................33Outside of school.................................................................................................................................34

Communicating by phone/text/email...................................................................................................34Social Networking...............................................................................................................................34

Interactions with other members of staff.............................................................................................34Punctuality...........................................................................................................................................34

Dos and Don’ts....................................................................................................................................35Dress Code for Staff.............................................................................................................................36

Expectations for Teachers During Class..............................................................................................36Expectations for Staff in Hallway........................................................................................................36

School Email........................................................................................................................................37Errands for Teachers............................................................................................................................37

Safety/Security.........................................................................................................................................37Building Access...................................................................................................................................37

Campus Security..................................................................................................................................38Locking Doors/Securing Valuable Items.............................................................................................38

Visitors.................................................................................................................................................38Emergencies and Drills........................................................................................................................38

Miscellaneous..........................................................................................................................................42Faculty Meetings..................................................................................................................................42

Random Student Search Procedure......................................................................................................42Transporting Students..........................................................................................................................42

Teacher Expenses.....................................................................................................................................43Vacation...............................................................................................................................................43

Sick/Personal Days..............................................................................................................................43Applying for Leave..............................................................................................................................43

Using the School Logo.........................................................................................................................44Inclement Weather Policy....................................................................................................................44

Maternity Leave Policy........................................................................................................................44Filing a Complaint...............................................................................................................................44

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Sexual Harassment...............................................................................................................................44Staff Termination Policy......................................................................................................................45

Room Reservations/Rentals.................................................................................................................45Money......................................................................................................................................................45

Donations.............................................................................................................................................46Collecting Money.................................................................................................................................46

Check Requests....................................................................................................................................47

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Our CultureMission StatementThe Soulsville Charter School will prepare students for success in college and life in an

academically rigorous, music-rich environment.

CreedAs a Community, we RISE.We are a COMMUNITY because we need each other.We show RESPECT because we hold others in high regard.We have INTEGRITY because it’s right.We are SCHOLARS because our futures depend on it.We have EMPATHY because we care how others feel.As a Community, we RISE.

Core Values

“As a Community, we RISE” Community- We can accomplish more together than alone- We help people in need- Valuing others for their strengths- Accepting others and offering suggestions for improvement Respect- Think about how your actions will impact others- Respect peers and adults- Respect the classroom- Make choices that will be good for everyone Integrity- Doing the right thing- Be honest at all times- Take ownership for actions, even when they are mistakes- Be the “bigger person” Scholarship- Always working to learn more- Never give up, even when things are tough- Work hard to make the most of every opportunity- Be proud of your achievements Empathy- Consider the feelings of others and how you can help them- Put yourself in the other person’s shoes- Always think about what you would want if you were in their situation- Help others to overcome challenges and difficulties

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Commitment to Excellence

THE SOULSVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE FORMRevised 2011-2012 School Year

The following Home/School Compact has been jointly developed and agreed upon by The Soulsville Charter School parents, students, and school staff. This compact outlines how parents, students, and school staff will share the responsibility for improving student academic achievement and how the school and parents will develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards. STUDENT’S COMMITMENT:I fully commit to the Soulsville Charter School in the following ways: I will arrive at school prepared to learn every day by 7:45 a.m. (Mon. – Fri.). I will remain at school every day until 4:30 p.m. (Mon. – Thur.) and 2:15 p.m. on Fridays. I will come to school on appropriate Saturdays. I will attend summer school.I will always work, think, and behave in the best way I know how because I know that hard work and personal discipline leadto success. I will ask my teachers for help if I am unsure of the proper way to handle a situation. I will always listen to others and give them my respect as I expect them to respect me. I will follow the Soulsville Charter School dress code. I am responsible for my own behavior.Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause me to lose various privileges and can lead to my removal from the Soulsville Charter School. X____________________________________ PARENTS’/GUARDIANS’ COMMITMENT:We fully commit to the Soulsville Charter School in the following ways: We will make sure our child arrives at school prepared to learn every day by 7:45 a.m. (Mon. - Fri.). We will make arrangements for our child to remain at school every day until 4:30 p.m. (Mon. – Thur.) and 2:15 p.m. onFridays. We will make arrangements for our child to come to school on appropriate Saturdays. We will make sure that our child attends summer school. We will always be committed to our child’s education and help him/her in any way possible. Thismeans that we will make sure our child reads every night and completes all assigned homework. We will communicate our concerns and thoughts with our child’s teachers and school director. We will allow our child to go on school field trips. We will make sure our child follows the Soulsville Charter School dress code. We are responsible for making sure that our child follows school rules so as to respect the rights of allstudents to learn. We will notify the school if our address and/or telephone number changes.Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause my child to lose various privileges and can lead to my child’s removal from the Soulsville Charter School. X____________________________________

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THE SOULSVILLE CHARTER SCHOOL’S COMMITMENT:The Soulsville Charter School staff commit to the following: We will provide a rigorous college preparatory curriculum within a highly structured learning environment. We will provide learning experiences of the highest quality every day. We will enthusiastically provide extended day and extended year learning opportunities for our students. We will model hard work and personal discipline and will expect the same from our students. We will always be open to respectful dialogue with students, parents, and community members. We will hold parent and teacher conferences at least annually to discuss the school-parent compact as it relates toyour child’s achievement. We will give frequent student progress reports to the parents. We will give parents reasonable access to staff and to volunteer, participate, and observe in their child’s class.We will always protect the safety, interests, and rights of all students. We will support the academic and social growth of all students.Failure to adhere to these commitments can lead to removal of staff from the Soulsville Charter School. X____________________________________

Guiding Principles at TSCS

●We care deeply about our students, so we treat them with kindness and compassion; at the same time, we never allow them to use excuses and we never lower our expectations for them.●The higher we set our expectations to meet students, the harder they will work to meet and exceed them.●Reading is essential- the more reading our students do, the better. Strong readers become strong writers. This helps to build critical thinking and analytical skills. All educated people are readers!●Unmotivated students will be motivated when they see excitement and enthusiasm from adults and peers.●Students need to “earn” privileges, rather than having them from the beginning.●Consistency is the key to success; we are strict about all of our expectations because students require consistency from us.●We are always open to suggestions for improvement, both as a school and as individual educators.●We never hesitate to ask questions when we are unsure of something. Any time you have a question, ask an administrator or another teacher.

School Identity

We are a REVOLUTION- a force rising up against ordinary expectations and the status

quo of public education in Memphis.

Official nickname : The Soulsville Revolution

Official colors: Royal Purple and Silver

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An important detail about our logo: The record located at the bottom of the logo reminds us that we were birthed from the legacy of music produced on this site historically. It also reminds us that we are a REVOLUTION (as records have a certain number of revolutions per minute).

Broken Window/Stained Glass Window TheoriesThe founding School Director of The Soulsville Charter School, David Hill, used the “Broken Window Theory” as inspiration for many of the things we do. To summarize, the Broken Window Theory says that any problems or imperfections will lead people to believe that messiness and disorder are the norm, which will result in more problems and imperfections. The theory is based on research that found that, if a building has a broken window and it is not repaired, people will see that no one cares enough to fix the window, and it will be the first building to have stones thrown through the other windows, graffiti painted on the walls, etc. Eventually, the same problems spread to the rest of the neighborhood. By contrast, if the owner of the building repairs the window immediately, it will be clear to anyone passing by that this building is well cared for and therefore will not attract vandalism.

What this means for us is that we fix any problems we see immediately. For example, students and staff stop in the hallways to pick up even the tiniest piece of paper, because that is a very small broken window that could lead to larger ones. If we see a problem, we fix it.

Dr. Hill took the notion a step further with his own “Stained Glass Window Theory,” which holds that, if fixing the window is good, then perfecting and enhancing the window is even better. So, beyond just “fixing” something that is wrong, we look for ways to make it the best it can possibly be. Just as a stained glass window is a message that a space is important and should be respected, we want to make it clear that our school is such a place.

Grammy System

PurposeThe Grammy system exists to reward behaviors that support the academic mission of the school.The Grammy System:

- Gives students additional privileges and opportunities, rather than penalizing students- Always encourages academic achievement and motivation, beyond what is “good

enough”- Is attainable for all students, including special needs students and those who who have

a long way to improve academically (can’t be just for making all A’s, although it should encourage this)

- Reflects the core values in a way that is clear to students- Is used consistently by all teachers, administrators and other staff- Provides regular, timely feedback so that students can adjust their behavior- Has specific rewards within a given time frame- Is fully transparent to students and parents, as well as teachers

Grammy System DetailsStudents receive a certain number of Grammys automatically each day. These alone are not enough to earn rewards. Students have opportunities throughout the day to earn extra Grammys for exemplifying the Core Values. At the same time, students can lose Grammys when they get deductions for behaviors that violate the Core Values.

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Grammy MeritsStudents are able to earn Grammys for exemplifying the Core Values in a way that goes above and beyond what is just expected. There are four different types of Grammys that students can earn, one for each of the the four components of RISE. Each of these adds one Grammy to the daily total. For example, a teacher may decide that a student should get an extra Grammy for Scholarship, due to a particularly outstanding answer to a question. These Grammys should be announced publicly, so that students know we are noticing the positive things they do, and not just giving corrections. In some ways, this is a subjective way of giving out Grammys, so it is important that teachers are fair and consistent with giving them out. The more that are given, the more we create an atmosphere of achievement. It is critical that these be recorded on clipboards and entered into the system along with corrections.

There is also a special “Community” Grammy, which counts as five Grammys in recognition of the overarching Community component of our Core Values. This is given when a teacher feels that a student has done something that is of great benefit to the Community, whether it is the classroom, the neighborhood, etc. Again, this is subjective, but it should be given for truly outstanding behaviors, such as taking the initiative to lead a group of students to clean up the campus.

Grammy DeductionsStudents can also lose Grammys for behaviors that violate the Core Values*. Each specific behavior has a number “code” attached to it for quick reference. Any one of these will result in a deduction of one Grammy from the student’s daily total. The reason there are so many specific behaviors here is that we can use this information to track particular behaviors. This is valuable to us, parents, and students, all of whom will be able to see exactly what needs to be improved. When a student receives a Grammy Deduction, it must also be accompanied by a correction. This can be a verbal correction, or it can be something as subtle as eye contact with the student, after which the teacher makes a mark on the clipboard. Unlike the Merit Grammys, whenever possible, we should avoid correcting students in a way that draws attention to the negative behaviors. This can be accomplished by talking to the student quietly at their desk, or by making eye contact, as described before.

*The list of codes is printed on many documents throughout the school so that the system is fully transparent to students and parents, as well as teachers. It is included on each referral document, and on each Grammy recording sheet, so there is no need to memorize the codes.

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Grammy Recording

ClipboardsAll teachers and administrators carry a clipboard at all times. On this clipboard is the standardized Grammy recording sheet. There is a standard form for this document, but each grade level will have its own sheet. This simplifies the process because most teachers deal with a single grade. Those who teach students from multiple grades will need to make sure they have the sheet for each of those grades. Each sheet also has room for write-ins so that teachers can record merits or corrections for students who are not on the list they carry every day.

Daily Entry of Grammy InformationAt the end of each day, teachers are responsible for entering their own Grammys into our computerized system. This must be done before leaving for the day. There is extensive training on this at the beginning of each year, but teachers should never hesitate to ask an administrator for help with this (or with anything else). Failure to enter required information consistently will result in a notice of failure to meet common expectations, which goes into the employment file.

Rewards

Weekly Rewards - The Grammy week is Wednesday through Tuesday- Students receive a report on Wednesday containing all Grammy and behavior

information, earning status (including college t-shirt, Friday Reward, Saturday School, Gold/Platinum wristband, and any other reward that may be coming up), and information on academic progress

- On Thursday mornings, students return their reports at the front door with a parent signature; this is a record that parents are aware of student progress on a weekly basis, and serves as permission slip for Saturday School.

- Students who do not return the report with a signature will report immediately to administrators, who will make phone calls to parents.

- Most weekly rewards take place on Fridays.- All grades have their own Friday Celebration, which is used to build team spirit,

recognize students who embody the Core Values, and communicate grade-wide announcements. These are exciting, energy-filled events.

Grade Level RewardsAt certain points in the year, students will have the opportunity to work as a grade level team to earn a specific reward, which is often a trip. These will be earned based on the average performance of the grade in these categories:▪ Grades▪ Attendance▪ Grammy Scores▪ Team Points▪ Homework Completion

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Grammy AuctionsGrade Level Teams will plan auctions periodically in which students can use their Grammys to purchase a variety of items provided by teachers and the school. These can range from homemade cookies to golf lessons

Gold/Platinum Wristbands Students who earn between 85% - 92% of all possible Grammy’s for the week are “Gold Students.” Students who earn between 93% - 100% of all possible Grammy’s are “Platinum Students.”

These students receive their gold/platinum wristbands in the Community Base classroom on Wednesdays, when they get the weekly report, which includes Gold and Platinum status. All wristbands from the previous week will be collected at this time as well. Teachers who have a Community Base will receive enough wristbands for all students, and will be responsible for managing them throughout the year. Students who do not turn in their wristbands will be charged a certain number of Grammys to replace it. Students must wear their wristbands each day in order to take advantages of the privileges associated with Gold and Platinum status, which may include eating lunch outside, helping the teacher with classroom tasks, getting to go to the front of the line, and other privileges that teachers may create.

Behavior Notification and Referral Process- There are three categories of infractions: those that result in a Grammy deduction but do

not count as referral-worthy; those that are both Grammy deductions and referral-worthy, meaning that a student who accumulates three of this type of correction in any one class period will receive a referral; and those that result in an automatic referral because they are the most severe behaviors.

- Behavior Notification (B.N.) is a mandatory part of every referral, unless the student has been corrected for something that results in an automatic referral. The B.N. serves as a warning to the student, so that they know they are very close to having a referral and so that they can then correct their behavior. After the student has been corrected for his or her first two referral-worthy infractions, the teacher hands them a behavior notification form (same as referral form) which the student must complete immediately, sign, and place at the corner of the desk. If the student fails to complete the Behavior Notification immediately, this alone escalates it to a referral. If this is the case, the teacher must indicate clearly that the student refused to complete this required step. Referrals that do not have the B.N. completed, or that are otherwise not properly filled out, will be returned to the teacher.

- Upon receiving a referral, the student reports directly to the office. Failure to do so will result in a second referral. The referral serves as the student’s hall pass, so there is no need to write a second one.

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School Spirit

Description of School Spirit Edifiers● Soul snaps- used as non-disruptive applause to show agreement, support, appreciation;

used appropriately by students at any time; snaps can be one or two handed; must be done calmly and in front of the solar plexus.

● Power snaps- Used to applaud unusually impressive instances of awesome thinking, or awesome actions; single, extra-loud snap, above the head, one-handed, only when called for; Leader says, “[number] power snap(s) on three: one, two, three…” and students perform the called-for quantity in perfect synchronization.

● Power claps- used for welcoming, thanking, general applause; Leader says “[number] power clap(s) on three: one, two, three…” and the audience responds with the called-for quantity in perfect synchronization.

● Boom sha-ka-la-ka- Leader says Boom shakalaka on three: one, two, three…” and the audience claps at the middle of their face as they say “boom,” then do jazz hands moving out and down with “sha-ka-la-ka-sha-ka-la-ka.”

● Tony the Tiger- Leader says, “Tony the Tiger,” and audience responds “You’re GRRRRRRRR-eat!”- just like the commercial.

● You go girl- Leader says “You Go Girl on three: one, two three…” and audience snaps, followed by a sassy pointed finger waved back and forth as it moves downward, and an accompanying head wave.

● Stevie Wonder- Leader says, “Stevie Wonder on three: one, two, three…” and audience throws their head back, eyes closed, fingers on the keyboard, and sings “ha-ha.”

● Walkin’ the dog- Leaders says, “Walk the dog on three: one, two, three…” and the audience sings, “Just a-walkin’ the dog,” while pretending to hold a leash while walking a dog.

● Respect- Leader says, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” and the group responds, “Find out what it means to me!”

● Soul Man- Leader calls out, “I’m a Soul Man,” and the audience responds, “da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da”.

● What a Man- One person calls out, “What a Man!” and the audience responds, “What a Mighty Good Man!”

● Rollercoaster- One person calls out “Rollercoaster on three: one, two, three…” and everyone puts their hands in the air and yells, “Whoooooooo!” as though going down the hill on a rollercoaster.

Policies Concerning StudentsLunch with teachers ▪Students will need a standard hall pass from the teacher inviting them to come for lunch. This can be written ahead of time and given to the student to hold until lunch. Students will not be dismissed from their normal lunch location without this pass signed by the teacher. ▪When students are dismissed to go to the teacher, the passes will be signed by appropriate staff in the Multipurpose Room. ▪Students should not be allowed to eat in the classroom with teachers without the signed pass. ▪Students return to the assigned lunch location before the end of the lunch period.

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Cell PhonesStudents are NOT permitted to bring cell phones to school. Provisions for special arrangements due to unique individual circumstances must be approved in writing in advance each school year by the Middle School Director for middle school students and by the High School Director by for high school students. The Soulsville Charter School (including the Soulsville Foundation) is not liable for cell phones that are lost or damaged on our campus or during school sanctioned activities that take place off campus. Students and their families assume all risk of loss or damage to cell phones brought to campus (whether they are collected by school staff or are on a students’ person).

Other importation information about cell phone usage: ● Students are never permitted to use their cell phones on campus, regardless of having

special permission from Mrs. Stakem or Mr. Daniels. This means that you should never even see a phone in a student’s hand. The only exception to this happens when a teacher gives explicit permission to a student to use their phone, in which case the teacher needs to stand with the student to make sure he or she does not get in trouble.

● Students may try to use their phones before or after school. This IS NOT permitted. They and their parents have been clearly informed of the rules. Confiscate any phones that you see, without exceptions.

● When students are on campus we have phones that they may use and their parents are able to contact them through the office…this means there should not be any reason for the phone to be out.

● Students who have permission to have phones on campus have reasons that include walking home, taking the bus, or after-school activities. This does not mean that they may use the phone at anytime on campus!

● Teachers should turn confiscated cell phones in to the main office in an envelope labeled with the student’s name.

● Phones and other confiscated items will be held until a designated date, at which time the parent must pick it up.

Official Cell Phone Policy Students are not permitted to use, wear, possess, or store cellular telephones and other similar communication devices on The Soulsville Charter School campus. Further, students are not permitted to use, wear, possess, or store cellular telephones and other similar communication devices while on campus or engaged in school related activities such as, but not limited to, Saturday School trips and summer session at Rhodes College. Students caught using, wearing, storing or in possession of cellular telephones or other similar communication devices will be subject to disciplinary action. In addition, the cellular telephone or other similar communication device will be confiscated and returned only to the student’s parent/guardian. The student’s parent/guardian must come to the office in person to claim any confiscated devices. The Soulsville Charter School is not liable for loss or damage to confiscated devices. Exceptions to this policy can be granted by the School Director in writing in response to a parent/guardian’s written request for an exception. Exceptions can be granted for reasons including, but not limited to, unique family medical situations or demonstrated safety concerns.

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In the event that special permission is granted for a student to bring a cell phone or other similar communication device to school, specific instructions will be provided in writing for how the device will be handled while on campus. These instructions will likely require students to label their cell phone or similar communication device with the students name and require students to surrender the device to the main office each morning. Students would then reclaim their device each afternoon at the end of the school day. Under no circumstances will students receive permission to keep communication devices in class. Even under special exception The Soulsville Charter School is not liable for loss or damage to cell phones or other similar communication devices brought to campus.

LockersWhen a new student arrives, the Community Base teacher will assign him/her a locker within the team’s allotted locker numbers. Students should only use lockers during approved times throughout the day and should only use them for storage of backpacks, lunches, and jackets. The only times students should go to lockers are:

● Before school● Before/After lunch (to get/return jackets and lunch bags)● Before/After Activity period (to get/return jackets)● At dismissal

During the winter months, students should only have one jacket in the locker at any given time. Otherwise, they should not keep clothing in lockers.

Items that should not be in lockers:Food (other than lunch, which must be in an enclosed container)Clothing, shoes and equipment for PE or Athletics

PencilsStudents only use mechanical pencils (no wooden pencils). We have found that eliminating the need to sharpen pencils during class saves valuable classroom time. Wooden pencils should be confiscated and the correction should be recorded to reflect the fact that the student did not have required materials.

Voice Codes and SpeakingVoice Codes:Code Red- When students are on Code Red, there is absolutely no talking. There are no exceptions. Even if a student says something like “bless you” or “excuse me,” it is still a violation of Code Red and must be recorded as a deduction. Students are automatically on code red in the classroom, in the hallway, or anywhere else in the building, unless they are told otherwise. This means that students entering a classroom are expected to maintain Code Red without having any reminders. Code Yellow- Code Yellow is talking “just loudly enough to get the job done,” and is used for group work and social time indoors. When on Code Yellow, students who are working in seats next to each other should be talking so softly that they cannot be heard elsewhere in the classroom. Students will always be informed if and when they are on Code Yellow. If a student

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is talking too loudly, the teacher should remind them of the expectations, and the appropriate Grammy deduction should be recorded. Code Green- Code Green is the voice code for outside of the building, but it is never announced. When students are outdoors, they are expected to control their volume. Code Green does not mean that it is okay to yell or even to talk at an excessive volume. If students are close to the building, we expect them to lower their volume in order not to disturb people learning and working inside. If they are playing football, then a louder volume is appropriate. Student should be reminded of what is appropriate, and Grammy deductions should be recorded if they fail to meet these expectations.

SpeakingStudents are expected to speak “professionally” while at school. This includes speaking:▪Clearly▪Confidently (appropriate loudness)▪Grammatically correctly▪Without “Um . . .” at the beginning of sentence▪In complete sentences (expect for yes/no questions)▪In the way that they would be expected to speak in an interview

Remember that we are preparing students to succeed in a variety of settings and situations. We expect them to speak professionally because it is a necessary skill for their own success in college and in the professional world. We communicate to students that this does not mean that “unprofessional” speaking is wrong, and that different ways of speaking are appropriate for different situations. Students should be reminded to speak professionally, given the opportunity to “say it again,” and should only be helped if necessary. We must be consistent about this expectation.

Field TripsAt The Soulsville Charter School, we take numerous field trips and outings, and it is very common for passersby to compliment our students. The expectations are similar to those at school.- We always get on the bus on Code Red- If teachers decide that students have earned the opportunity to go to Code Yellow by doing an excellent job on Code Red, then they will announce this to students.- Students are expected to talk at appropriate levels for the setting (e.g. whispering in museums, silent during a presentation or movie).- Students immediately go to Code Red when a tour guide or other adult is speaking to them- Teachers monitor students at all times.- It is appropriate to split students up, as long as each group has a teacher or other school-approved adult chaperone.- Grammy deductions and merits are recorded as usual.- Teachers take attendance before the bus leaves the school, and then again every time students get on the bus to go to another location.- If attendance has not already been recorded in the main office (for instance, if students board the bus before entering the building), attendance should be reported to the office by cell phone. - It is not acceptable for teachers to use field trip time to do other things. All staff should be engaged, monitoring, and interacting with students, whether it’s a trip to a museum or to the skating rink.

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Hall Passes for StudentsWhen students are sent to the office, from the office, to the restroom, etc, they must have a standard hall pass, which has the following information:

Student NameDateTimeDestinationTeacher/staff signature These passes will be provided to teachers and will be available in the office.

Student Phone CallsDo not allow students to use the classroom telephones during the school day. For emergency phone calls (e.g. being sick, needing medication, etc.) only, they may be given a pass to the office to make a phone call.

Reasons for not allowing phone calls: 1) Students should not be making phone calls during the school day unless absolutely necessary anyway, so calls should be very infrequent. 2) It is not good to have a student talking on the phone during class because it disrupts the classroom. 3) It is not good to have students talking on the phone pulled out into the hall because, then, it is difficult to know with whom exactly the student is talking.

Student PlannersEach student will receive a Soulsville Charter School planner at the beginning of the year. Teachers should plan time for students to record assignments at the end of the period. In addition, teachers should work with students on using the planner. Planners are a part of the required materials students should have each day.

Student AttendanceGreat school attendance is crucial for student learning! No student should be allowed to miss school unless ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Students will be allowed five “excused” absences per class for the school year. Excused absences may be granted for personal illness, death in the family, a medical appointment, or other true emergency. The student must bring a note from home upon return from illness. For doctor appointments, the student must bring a note from the doctor documenting the appointment. After five “excused” absences have been used, all future absences will be counted as “unexcused,” regardless of the reason for the absence. (Exceptions for rare, serious illnesses may be granted on a case by case basis.) Students must be in class in order to 1) learn as much as possible and 2) earn Grammys. When students are absent they do not get any Grammys at all. We remind students and parents of these facts when we tell them they should not be checked out early. Additionally, students’ grades will be affected by attendance. Grades suffer when you are not in class, and we want to make sure students are aware of this.

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Tardy / Absent StudentsFor student tardies / absences, the following steps are taken (in addition to the Grammy deduction(s) due to being absent from/tardy to class):

▪School Assistant calls parents each time a student is absent▪Teachers are expected to contact/meet with parents about attendance issues as needed.

Uniforms

Enforcing Uniform Policy● As students enter the building, administrators and teachers check to make sure that all

components of the uniform are present. They also check for required materials such as binders.

● When students are out of uniform, they will be redirected to administrators, who will call parents.

● Students who are out of uniform will not be able to attend class until the problem is resolved.

● If, at any point in the day, you see a student out of uniform, have the student report to the office.

Why do we have uniforms?

● Uniforms unite us as a community. When you look at TSCS shirts, it is a powerful visual statement to our community. Students make a commitment to the values at TSCS when they put on the TSCS uniform.

● Uniforms reduce distractions and clothing competition. Often students spend more time discussing and evaluating what others are wearing or not wearing than they spend focusing on learning. Wearing uniforms eliminates this distraction.

● Uniforms make us all equal. Whether families have high incomes or low incomes, the students come to school looking the same way. No one is made to feel bad about the clothes they have or don’t have.

● Uniforms look professional. Students look neat when they arrive to school with shirts tucked into their pants. The students come mentally prepared and “dressed for work.”

Middle School Uniform PolicyEffective July 1, 2011

Shirts:

● Official purple or white polo or button-down collared shirts with TSCS logo. (Shirts must be purchased from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.) Students have the option to leave only the top button unbuttoned.

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● Undershirts must be white or gray. Short sleeves must be hidden under the TSCS shirt. Undershirts worn under white TSCS shirts should not have any writing or design.

● Shirts must be tucked in at all times and be of appropriate length and fit. Buttons should not pull.

Sweaters:

● Gray sweater vest or long-sleeved sweater (purchased from Museum)● Shirts must be tucked in under sweaters.● Wearing a sweater/vest is optional, but only TSCS sweaters/vests may be worn.

Shoes/Socks:

● Closed-toed, plain black shoes.● Solid color (no white trim, markings or decorations)● Pants must completely cover boots; no fur or embellishments● Socks must be plain white or black with no stripes, ruffles or colorful designs.● Tights/hose must be plain black with no markings or designs. No cropped leggings

(leggings must have feet). Pants:

Plain black pants with no markings. No cargo pants, skinny leg pants, excessively tight pants. Pants should be worn on hips at all times.

Skorts (optional):Plain black skorts worn no more than 1 inch above knee. (No skirts.)

Belt:● Young men must wear belts. Young ladies have the option to wear a black belt. ● Belts must be plain black. No fancy or large buckles, markings, extra holes, or designs.● Shirts must be tucked in at all times; belts/belt loops must be visible.

Jackets/Outerwear:

● These items are not part of the school uniform. Students must take them off at the door. If a student is cold, we recommend the purchase of a TSCS vest or sweater.

Jewelry/Tattoos/Accessories:

● One simple watch is permitted, but no bracelets or necklaces.● Girls may wear small earrings no bigger than a quarter. Boys may not wear earrings of

any kind.● Tattoos must be covered.● Accessories should match the uniform (purple, silver, gray, white). Metallic gold jewelry

may also be worn. Headwear/Hairstyle:

● No hats, head scarves, “do rags”, bandanas, etc. (Headwear for religious purpose only).

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● No designs/words cut into hair.● Natural hair colors only; no bright colors (no matter how small).

Note: We reserve the right to determine whether or not any part of a uniform is appropriate.

High School Uniform PolicyEffective July 1, 2011 Shirts:

● White button-down collared shirts. Buttons must go all the way up to neck.● Undershirts must be white or gray. Sleeves must be hidden under the TSCS shirt.

Undershirts worn under white TSCS shirts should not have any writing or design.● Shirts must be tucked in at all times and be of appropriate length and fit. Buttons should

not pull. Sweaters:

● Gray sweater vest or long-sleeved sweater (purchased from Museum).● Shirts must be tucked in under sweaters.● Wearing a sweater/vest is optional, but only TSCS sweaters/vests may be worn.

Blazers:

● All high school students must wear a TSCS blazer.● Blazers must be of appropriate fit and in good condition; no rips, tears or missing

buttons. Shoes/Socks:

● Closed-toed, plain black shoes.● Solid color (no white trim, markings or decorations).● Pants must completely cover boots; no fur or embellishments.● Socks must be plain white or black with no stripes, ruffles or colorful designs.● Tights/hose must be plain black with no markings or designs. No cropped leggings

(leggings must have feet). Pants:

Plain khaki pants with no markings. No cargo pants, skinny leg pants, excessively tight pants. Pants should be worn on hips at all times.

Skirts (optional):If worn, must be purple plaid TSCS skirt (must be purchased in Museum). Must be worn no more than 1 inch above knee.

Belt:● Plain black. No fancy or large buckles, markings, extra holes, or designs.● Shirts must be tucked in at all times; belts/belt loops must be visible.

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Jackets/Outerwear:

● These items are not part of the school uniform. Students must take them off at the door. If a student is cold we recommend the purchase of a TSCS vest or sweater.

Jewelry/Tattoos/Accessories:

● One simple watch is permitted, but no bracelets or necklaces.● Girls may wear small earrings no bigger than a quarter. Boys may not wear earrings of

any kind.● Tattoos must be covered.● Accessories should match the uniform (purple, silver, gray, white). Metallic gold jewelry

may also be worn. Headwear/Hairstyle:

● No hats, head scarves, “do rags”, bandanas, etc. (Headwear for religious purpose only).● No designs/words cut into hair.● Natural hair colors only; no bright colors (no matter how small).

Ties:

● All male students must purchase and wear the required TSCS young men’s tie.● All female students must purchase and wear the required TSCS young ladies’ tie.● Senior young men may wear the TSCS bow tie.

Note: We reserve the right to determine whether or not any part of a uniform is appropriate.

Student Contact InformationPhone numbers and email addresses can be found in Teacher Ease. If you know of any change to a student’s contact information, please contact office staff so that the log can be updated.

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PROCEDURES

We have many specific procedures for the things we do on a daily basis. The purpose of these procedures is to create and preserve the structured learning environment that allows us to succeed. This means, for example, that we follow voice codes during transitions, we walk on the right side of the hallway, and we have a very precise way in which students sit at their desks. The following are the frameworks for the common procedures we use. These details will always be a part of the procedures, but grade level teams may expand upon them to suit their needs.

Entering the BuildingHigh School

High school students will enter at the left hand set front doors. There will be two separate lines for young men and young ladies. Girls will enter on the

side of the female teacher and boys will enter on the side of the male teacher. Students with minor corrections will be asked to step to the side and fix themselves. Students with major uniform issues will be redirected to administration. Upon successful uniform check and materials check, students will go upstairs and use

the restroom and/or go to Community Base. High school students will be on Code Red until they enter the second floor.

Middle School

Middle School students enter at the right-hand set of front doors. There will be two separate lines for young men and young ladies. Girls will enter on the

side of the female teachers and boys will enter on the side of the male teachers. Students with minor corrections will be asked to step to the side and fix themselves. Students with major uniform issues will be redirected to the administration. Upon successful uniform and materials check, students will walk down the right-hand

side of the hallway on Code Red.

Breakfast ProcedureFrom 7:30 to 7:45, students have the opportunity to pick up breakfast on the way to their “Community Base” (CB), where they eat it. Upon entering the CB room, they will check the bulletin board next to the door to see their Grammy totals from the day before. These totals will have been printed and placed in each CB teacher’s box, and should be posted before 7:30. By 7:45, all trash is cleaned up; students are reading and ready to begin Community Meeting promptly at 7:45.

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Hallway TransitionsMiddle School The teacher signals when students should line up at the door, and then when they should proceed into the hallway. Students walk on Code Red at all times, in a single file line on the right hand side, and accompanied by a teacher. When the line is not moving, students are reading.

High School

Students will be allowed to exit class once the teacher has dismissed them Students stay on the right-hand side of the hallways, but not in single file. Teachers are positioned in the middle “lane” of the hallways to monitor. Students will be on Code Yellow in the hallway. Students will only be allowed to cross to the other side of the hallway at points

designated as crosswalks. Students will have 5 minutes to transition to the next class. This time should also be

used to go to the restroom. Students will line up in a straight line outside the teacher’s door and wait until they are

invited to enter (Teachers should be standing at the door waiting to greet students). Students MUST walk with purpose to and from class. Students who don’t make it to class on time or who have an unexcused tardy will have to

have a meeting with the Dean of Students.

Exiting the Building High School students will be dismissed by the teacher and will exit along the right-hand

side of the hallway. They will be on Code Red going down the stairs and until they exit the building.

Middle School students will be escorted to the front door by their teachers. Teachers will have assigned posts during and after dismissal to make sure that students

are all out of the building and are safe during pick-up time. It is imperative that teachers are at their posts on time to ensure that dismissal is a

quick, quiet, and safe process.

Classroom Entry ProcedureHigh School and Middle School

1. Students enter silently, go directly to their seats and prepare their materials.

2. Students begin their “Do Now.” There should be NO questions for the first 5 minutes of class (if students finish early, they read their book or check over their answers). The teacher uses this time for attendance and other housekeeping.

Restroom Procedure

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In the restrooms, students move quickly and exit as soon as they have done their business.

High school students use the restroom during transition time; emergency breaks may be taken during class, but teachers discourage them and they result in a Grammy deduction. High school students are on Code Yellow in the hallways and in the restroom, but they should not be socializing or wasting any time in the restrooms.

Middle School students go with their class on a staggered schedule. Students line up in at the restroom door and read their books until it is their turn. Upon entering the restroom, students give their reading books to the teacher-appointed restroom monitor for safe-keeping. Middle school students are on Code Red the entire time. When finished, students wash their hands and pick up their book on the way out. Students join the line for students who are finished, and continue reading until the whole class is finished.

Passing in Papers1. Students always pass papers to the left, beginning with the student farthest to the right.

2. The second person from the right does not pass anything to the left until they have the first paper, and so on.

3. Once all papers are at the left end of each row, they are passed to the front of the left column, started with the person at the back of the column.

4. The result is that one student ends up with a neat stack containing everyone’s paper.

Sitting in ClassroomsStudents always sit:

▪up straight

▪with both feet forward and under their own desk (not on desk in front of them, not on any part of their own desk)

▪with hands on desk or in lap

Lunch Procedure All high school students have Code Yellow lunch, but the monitoring teacher may

decide to change to Code Red if it becomes necessary; for middle school lunches, students always begin on Code Red, with the possibility of “earning” Code Yellow.

Platinum and Gold students go to the front of the line and have the option of going outside.

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Based on the room where lunch is eaten, the monitoring teacher comes up with a seating chart and procedures for students’ collecting trash, cleaning tables, lining up, etc.

Special 8th Grade ProceduresAs rising high school students, 8th Graders will have the opportunity to gradually earn more of the “High School” privileges over the course of the year. The details will be determined by 8th grade teachers.

Classroom Seating Arrangements Teachers are advised to arrange seats in rows with space between each desk, or in

“shoulder partner” columns, where two desks are side by side. There may be reasons for other setups, but these are the two that many teachers find to be preferable.

All classrooms should have assigned seating for purposes of consistency, efficiency (distribution of materials, etc.), and so that seating charts can be provided for substitutes.

Food and SnackBreakfast- Breakfast is provided each morning for any student who arrives in time to get it. Students are not permitted to eat any outside food during breakfast time.Lunch- Students may buy lunch at school or bring their own; students who bring their lunches must keep them stored in a closed container and stored appropriately (under desk) until lunch time.Snack- We have snack every day M-Th. The snack is provided and students are not permitted to bring their own. If students have fresh fruit and/or bottled water at lunch, they are allowed to save them until snack time. Records of students with allergies and unique nutritional needs will be kept in the office, and alternative snacks will be provided for these students by the school.Candy- Students should not have candy on campus, unless provided by a teacher. Candy should be confiscated, unless it is provided by a teacher.Water bottles- Water bottles are not allowed for Middle School students. High School students are permitted to carry water bottles and drink water in classes, as long as it is not a disruption. Teachers reserve the right to prohibit water bottles for their own rooms. Water bottles must be clear and are for water only.Selling food/ other items on campus- Students are prohibited from selling any items at school. Exceptions may be made for certain fundraisers, but you will receive notification if this is the case. Any food or other items that are being sold or distributed should be confiscated and the issue should be reported to an administrator. Food from home- Students can bring their own lunch, but they should only bring enough for their own consumption on that day. Students are not permitted to share food during lunch or at other times during the day. This means, for example, that no one should bring large bags of chips. This is also an issue of healthy eating. Sensible portions are important to a child’s health and are essential for having a good afternoon.

Academics

Grading

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Semester Averages

Exams are worth 20% of the semester grade:

Semester Average = [(2 x 1 st term grade) + (2 x 2 nd term grade) + Semester exam grade] 5

Class participationEvery student will receive a participation grade worth a certain percentage (communicated by the school director) of the quarterly grade for every course. This will be a category in the Teacher Ease grade book.

Grading Scale (for report cards*)93-100 = A (Excellent)85-92 = B (Good)75-84 = C (Satisfactory)70-74 = D (Unsatisfactory)60*-69 = F (Failure)

*Note: This scale is for final grades as reported on report cards. Grades for individual assignments that earn an “F” may be assigned from 0-69. The final report card grades should be 60 or above in order to ensure that students are not doomed to failure because of one or two bad grading periods.

Excused / Unexcused Make-up PolicyFor excused absences, students may make up work for 100% credit. For unexcused absences, students may make up work for a maximum of 70% credit.

Teacher Ease:● Teacher Ease grade books must be updated by 5pm each Sunday.● Every student should receive a comment on report cards.● Grades must be finalized by 7:15am on the Monday of the week that progress reports

and report cards are issued.● Teachers will notify parents of assignment grades via Teacher Ease email each time

assignment grades are entered.● Attendance must be entered within the first five minutes of each class period. This

ensures that all students are in class and accounted for.

Lesson PlansSeparate Soulsville 5-Step lesson plans for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are due by 5pm the Friday prior. Separate Soulsville 5-Step lesson plans for Thursday and Friday are due by

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5pm on the Tuesday prior. These need to be e-mailed to the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction (DCI), School Director and Special Education Instructors.

A copy of lesson plans should be placed in a box outside of the classrooms by 7:15am on Monday mornings. These should be placed in a 3 ring binder with all accompanying lesson handouts.

A copy of rosters and seating charts should be in the box outside the classrooms at all times. These should be updated with any changes throughout the year.

Weekly QuizEach teacher will give a weekly quiz each Friday that covers what was taught that week. This quiz is due by 5pm on the Tuesday prior with the Thursday and Friday lesson plans.

Updated weekly quiz data will be posted outside of classrooms by the DCI by 8am Monday morning. The quiz grades must be entered with all other grades by 5pm on Sunday.

Observation-Debrief CycleEach Sunday by 5pm the DCI will send out the weekly observation schedule. This schedule will include the date and time of the class observation as well as the date and time of the debriefing conversation. The purpose of this is to identify teacher strengths as well as work on areas for growth. This will allow us to continuously increase our effectiveness in the classroom and provide the highest quality of college preparatory instruction for our students.

Debriefs will last approximately 30 minutes during the teachers planning period. During this conversation the DCI and the teacher will walk through the student data, the observation notes, lesson plan feedback, and identify next steps for the teacher to take in their development.

Lesson Plans When Teacher Is OutWhen you are going to be absent, please send lesson plans that follow the guidelines below. It is difficult for one teacher to step into another teacher’s shoes and do a lesson in the same way that a teacher would ordinarily do it. In order for lessons to go as smoothly as possible, it is imperative that lesson plans that are left for other teachers have the following:

1. Clear directions for students on individual student handouts (directions should not have to be written on the board or said aloud).

2. Individual work that students complete in seats (no getting out of seats to do things that are normal operating procedures for their regular teacher that would cause difficulty for another teacher).

3. Work that will take longer than the entire class period (unfinished work to be done for homework).

4. Finally, of course, as always . . . engaging work that students will get into!!

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The covering teacher should not have to do anything except hand out work and monitor the class. These things can be done with only a moment’s notice. (Of course, the teacher CAN choose to add helpful explanations, examples, etc, but that shouldn’t be necessary in order for students to complete the assignment.)

A lesson that fits these qualifiers should be placed in a labeled substitute-folder in the box outside of the classroom. This ensures that a quality lesson is prepared in the event of an emergency. Once the lesson has been used a new lesson will need to replace it in the substitute-folder.

Homework

Morning Homework CheckEach morning, homework is collected and checked for completion so that parents can be informed whether or not their child will be staying late for Homework Club. Teachers will receive all of this student work soon thereafter in order to grade it thoroughly.

Missing and Late WorkStudents are expected to make up any missed work, and will be given the opportunity to do so.

1. Work missed for excused absences can be made up for 100% credit, as long as it is returned the next day.

2. Work missed for unexcused absences begins with a maximum grade of 70%.3. Late work will receive a maximum grade of 70%, with ten points deducted for each

additional day that it is late.

Deductions for Missing WorkTeachers will receive all assignments after the morning homework check. Students who fail to turn in an assignment should get the corresponding Grammy deduction in your class.

Standard Heading for AssignmentsWe have a common heading throughout the school for the sake of consistency. The following should be at the top left corner of all assignments:

NameDateSubjectPeriodAssignment details (specific)

Honor CodeThe Soulsville Charter School’s Commitment to Honor:

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“On my honor I have neither given nor received assistance on this assignment.”

Cheating and PlagiarismThe Soulsville Charter School’s mission is to prepare students for success in college and life in an academically rigorous, music-rich environment. As such, we take cheating and plagiarism extremely seriously. Students can be expelled from college for even a single violation of the Honor Code, and we have to make sure our students understand how serious it is now, long before they are there. We educate our students, beginning in 6th grade, on the reasons that cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable. Each year, students in every grade are exposed to this information again, so that every student at The Soulsville Charter School is familiar with the expectations.

Academic ReferralsAcademic referrals are available in printed form in the office, and in digital form on the shared drive. Any time a student has been involved in cheating or plagiarism, the Academic Referral should be filled out with all details of the incident, and sent with the student to the office. If it is not clear whether the student was directly involved, the teacher should investigate and call on the assistance of administrators, if needed. Referrals should only be written once it is certain that the student cheated or plagiarized.

All Academic Referrals are placed in the student’s permanent record*. Consequences for Academic Referrals can include any of the following:

-Assignments related to reflecting upon and correcting the problem -Mandatory conference with parent and Dean of Students -Student is placed on Academic Alert (probation) -Mandatory conference with parent and School Director-Home suspension -Removal from The Soulsville Charter School

Repeated infractions will result in increasingly severe consequences, although it is possible that a single incident could warrant the most severe consequence.

*When writing college recommendations, teachers and staff should always consult the students’ academic record in the office.

Daily Responsibilities for Teachers

Community Meeting

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Community Meeting is similar to a “homeroom” time. It happens from 7:45 to 8:00 each day. This time is used for announcements, repeating the Creed, Grammy rewards, daily reflections, academic enrichment, Word of the Week, collecting signed documents, etc. This happens in the “Community Base” room.

Announcements School wide announcements will be made during Community Meeting time. Teachers should email announcements to Ms. Green by 12:00pm the day before the announcement should be made. Announcements will be in teacher boxes by 7:25am each morning.

Weekly NewsletterStudents receive a newsletter attached to their weekly report every Wednesday. This is full of important information for students and parents. If you have anything to be included in the newsletter, they should be submitted no later than 12:00pm the day before publication (Tuesday).

Daily AttendanceDaily attendance must be submitted electronically by 8:15am each day. It is imperative that his happens on time every day. If you are ever having issues with this, contact office staff immediately.

Common Board Configuration (CBC)Teachers write the following components on the board each day.

● Do Now● Objective● Agenda● Homework● Word of the Week

Do NowA brief (5 minute) activity at the very beginning of class that orients students’ attention for the day’s lesson. Although it can take many forms, the purpose of the Do Now is similar to warming up before a race. Examples include: a short written reflection on a supplied topic; a few math problems to be worked out independently; reading a short passage and answering questions afterwards. It can be something that references a previous lesson, or it can be related to the new material the students are about to learn. It is important that all students are able to complete the Do Now assignment without assistance from the teacher or from peers. This is the time when the teacher can be doing attendance, passing out papers, etc. It is also important to follow up with the Do Now, rather than just moving on, so that students know that it is an important part of the class. Many teachers have students trade and check each others’ Do Nows, and count it as a grade.

Objective

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This is the goal that the teacher has for the students during the class period. In other words, you should be able to say, “The students will be able to [Objective] at the end of the class period.” Objectives are aligned with specific SPI’s (student performance indicators), but they are often smaller “chunks” of a bigger SPI, and they are written in the teacher’s own words. For example, an SPI for Math might be, “Perform operations with fractions and mixed numbers,” but the teacher will decide to break that broad set of skills into the specific objective, “Multiply two fractions.”

AgendaThis is a sequential list of the different parts of class. This is very important for students to see so that they know what is coming up in the class. It also serves to keep the class on pace.

HomeworkHomework should be meaningful and challenging. It is written on the board from the beginning of class so that students know they will be expected to continue their learning at home. Students should not, however, start working on the assignment during class unless the teacher gives permission to do so. Some teachers choose to provide several assignments at different levels of difficulty, and allow students to choose which one they will complete.

WOW – Word of the WeekEach week teachers will be forwarded the word of the week and a one word definition. This is included in the Common Board Configuration in each classroom. Everyone should incorporate the word into weekly discussions with students.

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Policies Concerning StaffTeacher and Staff Conduct

Being alone with studentsTeachers and Staff should never be alone with a student of the opposite gender. This can be grounds for immediate termination.

Examples include: Being alone in a vehicle; do not give rides to individual students of the opposite gender;

do not put yourself in a situation that will later result in you being alone with a single student of the opposite gender (e.g. starting with two and dropping one off).

Being alone with an individual student in any room where activities are not highly visible to passersby; if you need to meet individually with a student, make sure that it is in a place where you and the student can be seen.

Teachers and Staff should always exercise caution about being alone with any student, regardless of gender.

This includes athletics and other extra-curricular/after-hours activities, as well as off-campus events.

Teachers should call the parent/guardian and get permission from them to take the student home. If the teacher cannot get in touch with the parent or adult, contact an administrator.

If you are ever in doubt, ask an administrator for help.

Interactions with studentsTeachers and Staff at the Soulsville Charter School interact with students in a professional manner; they are not here to be friends to the students, nor are they here to chastise them. They treat them with respect and hold them to the standards described in the Commitment to Excellence.

Teachers should not communicate with students through Facebook or other social media. Any such contact should be reported to an administrator immediately.

Teachers should use email and telephone to communicate with students and parents. All such communications should be of a professional nature.

Interactions with parents All interactions with parents should be courteous and professional Any time you feel that a parent is hostile, or likely to become so, contact an administrator

to participate in any further contact. If this is in the middle of a meeting, calmly state that you “feel that an administrator should be present,” and assure the parent that the meeting will continue when an administrator is available.

Always remain calm. If parents have questions about other members of staff, students other than their own, or

any questions you cannot answer, refer them to an administrator. If parents are interacting inappropriately with students or other parents (e.g. arguing,

harassing, fighting) contact security and then an administrator immediately. Parents cannot use class time to talk to teachers about their students’ performance;

explain to the parent that they can set up a meeting time with you in the office.

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If parents come to the classroom to observe, they should have a visitor’s sticker that is visible.

Outside of schoolTSCS staff members are representatives of the school whether they are on campus or off. Any off-campus activities that are illegal, or that compromise the teacher’s ability to be a model for students, may be grounds for termination. You will run into students and parents in off-campus settings. All interactions should be courteous and appropriate. If you need to, explain that you would be happy to set up a meeting with them at the school, during regular school hours.

Communicating by phone/text/emailThere are many times when teachers need to communicate with students and parents about assignments, game times, etc.- It is appropriate to use the phone, text messages, or email, as long as all communications are professional and only pertain to school business- You should use only your Soulsville address for emails, in order to document all communications, and to separate personal from professional business- Many teachers like to make their cell phone numbers available to students. If you choose to do this, make sure that you inform all of your students of your cell phone number (printing it on your syllabus is one way of doing this), rather than giving it out selectively to some students.

Social Networking Staff should not be “friends” with students on social networking sites (Facebook, etc.). It is important to make sure that your personal information is not accessible for others to

see (account settings should be “private”).

Interactions with other members of staff If you feel there is a problem with a colleague, address it in a professional manner; if this

does not resolve the issue, contact an administrator to address it. If you feel that another member of staff has behaved inappropriately, the behavior

should be reported to an administrator, even if you feel that you have addressed it or that the issue has been resolved.

Punctuality Teachers and Staff are required to sign in by 7:20 each morning, and to stay until 4:45

each evening. Any time you are going to be late, contact the School Director first. Teachers and Staff must be at all posts (including classrooms, drop-off, and dismissal

locations) at the designated time. If, for some reason, you are not able to be at your designated location on time, contact an administrator so that coverage can be arranged.

Teachers and Staff are expected to be on time to all meetings and special events. Failure to meet these expectations will result in disciplinary actions and may lead to

termination.

Dos and Don’ts

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Soulsville Charter School teachers ALWAYS…-discipline with sensitivity-follow the golden rule-are consistent-follow up-give students a clean slate-focus on the positive-call parents about positive things, too-have a time schedule for the lesson-get organized-have back-up activities for unexpected additional time-hold everyone 100% accountable-deal with issues-explain why we expect so much from students-address a problem as soon as it comes up-are open to feedback-give constructive feedback to co-workers-are on time for work-show up to meetings on time-remember that we are here for the kids-model what they want to see from students-remain “on” in the classrooms-uphold our core values-engage in and welcome solution –oriented feedback

Soulsville Charter School teachers NEVER…-say work is worthless-say shut up-yell-curse-use cruel sarcasm-use degrading language or tone-disrespect students-use accusatory or provocative language (“are you crazy?”-waste time-allow students to waste time-let students sleep-let students work on other work-extend the do-now (to fill time)-let students out late-let students leave without a pass-discipline in public (public shaming)-avoid correcting a difficult student-are afraid to give constructive feedback-turn away constructive feedback-use instructional time to discuss personal issues with students-allow students to miss class time to see the counselor unless absolutely necessary at that moment (very rarely happens)-ignore/avoid correcting students they do not know-aimlessly gripe (complaining for the sake of complaint)-use planning time for social networking-think of planning time as “free time.”-sit during instructional time

Dress Code for Staff

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● Monday-Thursday:

Men:○ Top: Collared shirts of appropriate size and fit○ Tie○ Bottom: Khakis or slacks of appropriate size and fit with belts○ Shoes: Non-tennis and non-sandal shoes

Women:○ Top: Collared or other business casual shirt or blouse of appropriate size, fit,

and length. Tops must have sleeves. ○ Bottom: Business casual khakis, slacks, Capris, or skirt of appropriate length

(no more than a couple of inches above the knee) and fit ○ Other: Dresses that meet the same criteria may also be worn.○ Shoes: Non-tennis shoes; no thongs/flip flops

● Friday (Rep the Revolution):○ Teachers/Staff have the option of wearing school-themed or purple shirts/tops.

Ties are optional if Revolution gear is worn. College shirts may also be worn.

● Saturday:○ Same as Monday-Thursday; Men may wear golf shirts.

Expectations for Teachers During ClassWhen teaching, teachers should:- Display enthusiasm and energy for learning!- Rarely sit down. Dynamic teaching does not happen from a chair!- Always circulate to keep all students engaged, check student progress, and monitor behavior- Model appropriate behavior for students- Speak professionally- Always carry a clipboard and record any Grammy merits and deductions- Address all problems and failures to meet expectations, no matter how small they might seem- Show warmth and compassion for all students, while holding them to high expectations

Expectations for Staff in HallwayIt is very important for us to model the behaviors we expect from our students. This means that we should:- Avoid talking in the hallways; sometimes it is necessary, but it should be kept to a minimum.- Set an example for students by reading when we’re in the hallways.- Avoid talking to or correcting students who are with another teacher; you should let that teacher know of the issue.- Always act professionally in our conduct with students and with each other.

School Email

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Email is the most common method for communicating between among staff.- All staff members are expected to check their email prior to 7:25 each morning.- Items that must be addressed first thing in the morning should be sent no later the evening before.- Email communications should always be professional.- Since emails can contain personal information about individual students, your email should be confidential and should never be accessible to students.- Teachers should not check or write email during class time; All urgent messages will be communicated by means other than email.- All staff should have a standard email signature that is automatically attached to any messages; IT personnel will help with this- It is very important to respond to emails in a timely manner (usually within one day)

Errands for TeachersWe protect student learning time by keeping them in class as much as possible. Students should not be leaving class to do errands, get water, or make copies for teachers. This is also about communicating to students in every way possible that the most important thing for them is the material that is being covered in class.

Safety/Security

Building AccessStaff can access the building any time that the museum is open. This includes school holidays, weekends, etc. If you wish to enter the building during one of these times, please notify a museum clerk when you arrive and he/she will turn off the alarm for you. Also, notify security right away of your presence—either in person or via channel 3 on the radio. When you leave the building, you need to notify security and the museum as well so that the alarm can be re-armed. On all days, staff should not stay in the building later than security is present. This means that staff need to be out of the building by 7:00 P.M. on weekdays and by the end of regular museum hours on the weekends. The building will open M-F at 6:30 A.M. If a special event (i.e. sports, field trip, etc.) requires people to be here later than these times, then Duke Herenton needs to be notified so that special arrangements can be made. Museum hours are below:HOURS: April-October November-March (Closed Mondays)Monday-Saturday Tuesday-Saturday10 a.m.-5 p.m. 10 a.m.- 5p.m.Sunday: 1-5 p.m. Sunday: 1-5 p.m.

The back and side doors should never be used except for emergencies. In the Academy building, the side door in the Multipurpose Room is only to be used for platinum/gold students stepping outside to eat lunch. For everything else, the approved doors are to be used.

Campus Security

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All teachers and staff are required to sign in/out every time they enter/leave the immediate campus. This is campus policy for all employees and visitors. It is not necessary to sign out when one goes to the Academy building or elsewhere on campus.

All teachers and staff must wear school identification badges at all times. Only the approved doors of the building should be used. Back and side doors (including

the Academy building) should never be opened except in case of emergency.

Locking Doors/Securing Valuable Items- Campus policy is that all rooms are to be kept locked whenever they are empty. - Any valuable items should be locked in file cabinets or carried on your person; although

it’s rare, valuables occasionally go missing.

VisitorsAll visitors to the building must sign in, at which time they will receive (and must wear) a visitor pass. Please help us make sure that all visitors are directed to the front desk to sign in and get a visitor pass. As you see visitors in the building, please check to make sure they have a pass. If not, please stop them and escort them back to the main office to sign in and get a visitor pass. If you see any problems or suspicious activity, contact campus security immediately.

Emergencies and DrillsFire (Refer to the “Evacuation” plan in the School Emergency Management Guide)After hearing the fire alarm,

Teacherso Stay calm and instruct students to line up.o Take the class roster and Emergency Management Guide (EMG) from easily

accessible location.o Escort students out of the building through the designated emergency exit

(according to posted emergency exit plans) to the lawn behind the parking lot, making sure that classroom doors are closed.

o Care for emotionally, medically fragile students.o Transport students with limited mobility (with student help).o Call roll and immediately report missing or extra students to the school director.o Await directions from a school administrator before returning to the building.o If you are on fire, stop, drop, and roll.

Studentso Follow teacher directions.o Stand in straight lines silently (on Code Red) while outside.o If you are on fire, stop, drop, and roll.

Office Staff o The person sitting at the front desk of the school office collects all students under

the supervision of the office.

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o Escorts students out of the building through the designated exit to the lawn to the designated outside assembly area, making sure that doors used are closed.

o Immediately report missing or extra students to an administrator.o Await directions from a school administrator before returning to school.o If you are on fire, stop, drop, and roll.

Administratorso Grab radios and exit the building.o Make sure that all teachers are present with students.o Wait for clearance from campus services before instructing teachers and

students to return to the school building.o If you are on fire, stop, drop, and roll.

TornadoAfter receiving instructions (via an all call, a memo, or a phone call),

Teacherso Stay calm and instruct students to line up away from windows.o Grab the class roster and the EMG from an easily accessible location.o Escort students to the hallway and have them assume “Drop, Cover, and Hold”

position as described below: Drop to your knees with your backs to the windows Make your bodies as small as possible and bury your face in your arms Close your eyes, cover your ears, and as much skin surface as possible.

o Call roll and immediately report missing or extra students to the School Director.o Care for emotionally, medically fragile students.o Maintain Drop, Cover, and Hold position until you receive directions from a

school administrator to relocate or to resume normal activities. Students

o Follow teacher directions.o Remain silent (Code Red) while waiting for further directions.

Office Staffo The person sitting at the front desk of the school office collects all students under

the supervision of the office.o Escort students to the designated location away from doors and windows.o Immediately report missing or extra students to an administrator.o Await directions from a school administrator before returning the students to their

designated locations. Administrators

o Grab radios and enter the hallway.o Make sure that all teachers are present with students.o Wait for clearance from campus services before instructing teachers and

students to return to class.

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EarthquakeAfter feeling tremors or after being instructed to do so via an all call or radio announcement,

Teacherso Stay calm and instruct students to line up away from windows.o Grab the class roster and the EMG from an easily accessible location.o Have students assume “Drop, Cover, and Hold” position as described below:

Drop to your knees with your backs to the windows Make your bodies as small as possible and bury your face in your arms Close your eyes, cover your ears, and as much skin surface as possible.

o Call roll and immediately report missing or extra students to the principal.o Care for emotionally, medically fragile students.o Maintain Drop, Cover, and Hold position until you receive directions from a

school administrator to relocate or to resume normal activities. Students

o Follow teacher directions.o Remain silent (Code Red) while waiting for further directions.

Office Staffo Follow “drop, cover, and hold” as described above.o As soon as you can safely do so, check on students who have been referred to

the office as members of the school safety team. o Report missing or extra students to an administrator.o Maintain Drop, Cover, and Hold position until you receive directions from a

school administrator to relocate or to resume normal activities.

Administratorso Follow “drop, cover, and hold” as described above.o Grab radios as soon as possible for communication with teachers and campus

services.o Make sure that all teachers are present with students if possible.o Wait for clearance from campus services before instructing teachers and

students to leave “drop, cover, and hold” position.

Dangerous Person/Gunman in the Building or on the Campus Administrators

o Make an announcement via the paging system or via radio. Just say, “Mr. Lock is needed downstairs.”

After hearing “Mr. Lock is needed downstairs” on the intercom or via radio, Teachers

o Follow “Lockdown” procedure as described below. Close and lock all windows/doors. Keep students prone on the floor and out of sight.

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Do not follow PA announcements. Allow no one to leave the room once secure.

Care for emotionally/medically fragile students. Use wastebasket for restroom facility, if necessary.

Take student attendance and communicate to the School Director the names of missing and/or extra students.

Remain in “Lockdown” mode until an administrator directs you to resume normal activities.

Studentso Follow teacher directions.o Remain silent (Code Red) while waiting for further directions.

Office Staffo Follow “Lockdown” as described in the EMG.o As members of the safety team, collect students who have been referred to the

office. o Report missing or extra students to an administrator.o Await directions from a school administrator before leaving “drop, cover, and

hold” position.

Administratorso Follow “Lockdown” as described in the EMG.o Grab radios as soon as possible for communication with teachers and campus

services.o Wait for clearance from campus services before instructing teachers and

students to abandon “Lockdown” procedure.

After hearing a gunshot, Teachers

o Follow “Hit the Deck” procedure as described below. When you recognize immediate danger or hear what sounds like gun

shots…shout “Hit the Deck.” Ensure that everyone immediately drops to the ground and lies flat. Tell students to cover their heads with their hands and arms. Tell students to keep their eyes closed and ears covered. Stay calm; assure students that you will stay with them no matter what. Care for emotionally, medically fragile students. Allow no one to move around or stand up unless absolutely necessary. Remain on the floor until an administrator directs you to resume normal

activities.

Studentso Follow teacher directions.

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o Remain silent (Code Red) while waiting for further directions.

Office Staffo Follow “Hit the Deck” as described above.o Await directions from a school administrator before leaving “Hit the Deck”

position.

Administratorso Follow “Hit the Deck” procedure as describe above.o Grab radios as soon as possible for communication with teachers and campus

services.o Wait for clearance from campus services before instructing teachers and

students to abandon “Hit the Deck” procedure.

ALL SCHOOL RADIO COMMUNICATION WILL BE ON CHANNEL ONE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED.

MiscellaneousFaculty MeetingsFaculty/Department/Team meetings are held each Friday from 2:45PM to 5:00PM. These meetings are required and other appointments should not be made during this time.

Random Student Search Procedure Student belongings will be randomly searched according to the following guidelines: 1. Periodically, The Soulsville Charter School will conduct random searches of students and their belongings.2. Campus safety personnel will be notified of the time and location for the searches.3. Teachers and/or administrators will conduct the searches along with campus safety personnel. 4. All students subjected to a search will be treated with respect and care for their personal safety.5. If a banned item is confiscated (e.g. a cell phone, weapon, or illegal drugs), the student will be referred to the appropriate authority (e.g. the dean of students, the school director, or, if necessary, law enforcement).

Transporting StudentsThere are some situations in which teachers drive students. For example, coaches often drive their team in a Soul Van. Teachers who would like to drive group of students to an event should check with an administrator to make sure that it is approved. Teachers should use extreme

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caution in driving students in their own vehicles. As stated elsewhere in this document, you should never be alone with a student of the opposite gender, whether it’s in a classroom, or in a car.

Teacher ExpensesTeachers will receive a classroom budget each school year of $500. In order to receive your reimbursement, please make sure that the receipt only contains those items that need to be reimbursed. Make a copy of the receipt and attach it to the “Employee Expense Reimbursement Form” located on the shared drive and available in printed form in the office. The form should then be placed in your school director’s box.

Pre-approval will be needed on any purchases for which the school will be billed or for which staff members will expect reimbursement (other than the normal classroom budget that is up to teacher discretion).

VacationVacations are taken at the same times as student vacations (i.e. Winter Break, Spring Break, Summer Break, etc.). Office staff are allotted a minimum of one week vacation during the summer term, on a rotating basis, to ensure that essential school office operations can continue in order to conclude the previous academic year and prepare for the upcoming academic year. Total days for all breaks (vacation / holidays) amount to at least 32 days for teachers and at least 27 days for office staff.

Sick/Personal DaysThe school needs everybody here every day possible in order to 1) provide what is needed for our students and 2) model the same kind of commitment that we expect of students.

All school staff members have 7 sick days and 2 personal days. Additional absences will result in per-day pay deductions.

Sick days are allotted for days when staff members are sick. Unused sick days will roll over to a maximum of 10 sick days, which may be used when a staff member is sick. Personal days are allotted for the rare occasions when a staff member absolutely must be somewhere else on a school day (for reasons other than being sick).

Calling in SickIf you are not able to come to school, you must call both the School Director and the Dean of Students prior to 7:00am (8:00 Saturdays).

Applying for LeaveLeave of absence forms are available in the main office. You must fill these out and then submit them to the School Director for approval.

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Using the School LogoGuidelines are in place to standardize expectations when printing our logo and other logos for departments of the Soulsville Foundation. We need to make sure that we represent our school and our organization properly in terms of the logo and the school name, “The Soulsville Charter School”. Please know that if you use the school logo for anything internally or externally, it should meet these exact standards. If you have questions about this, please ask an administrator.

Inclement Weather PolicyIn the case of inclement weather, TSCS will be closed (Monday-Friday) when Memphis City Schools closes. We will not make a separate announcement for TSCS for Monday-Friday. Announcements regarding Memphis City Schools’ closings can be found on all of the major local television networks.

For Saturdays, we will make a separate decision based upon conditions regarding closing school. An announcement will be placed on all of the major news channels ONLY if school IS closed. If nothing has posted by 7:00/7:30 on Saturday morning, please be prepared to be at work at the normal time (8:45), but keep watching the news.

Maternity Leave Policy

Female employees will be allowed to take up to one calendar year of unpaid maternity leave.

Normal paid vacation time will still be paid. (e.g. Winter break, Spring Break, Summer Break.

The Soulsville Charter School reserves the right to provide one week of paid leave.

Filing a ComplaintIf you want to file a complaint against another staff member, please do so in writing to that person’s supervisor. If you are not sure of what to do, please ask someone in leadership for help.

Sexual HarassmentSexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that leads to a hostile or offensive work environment. If you are being sexually harassed, please file a complaint as directed above.

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Staff Termination PolicyEmployees who do not meet performance expectations will be given every opportunity to finish the current academic year. Employees with unacceptable job performance will be treated according to the following process:

1) Employees will typically be notified of the need for improved performance in written and verbal communication and will be provided counseling and support needed to make improvements. In the most extreme cases (e.g., employee actions or words that harm or threaten to endanger students’ well being and behavior that creates an irrevocable breach of trust), employees may be terminated immediately.

2) In cases where termination is necessary to ensure a safe and/or productive learning environment for students, the following will guide the termination process:

The School Director makes the decision to terminate an employee. The employee may appeal this decision to the Appeals Committee by initially

informing the Executive Director of the intent to appeal in writing. The employee will meet with the Appeals Committee and a final decision will be

rendered.

Room Reservations/RentalsFor use of space in the Stax Music Academy (Multipurpose Room, please take the following steps:

1. Check the Room Reservation Calendar for availability.

2. Once you see that it is available, email Leona Johnson of the Stax Music Academy to ask her to reserve the space. She will confirm the reservation.

3. Campus facilities may be rented for special events (birthday parties, etc.) All rentals (use of the space for events) must go through the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Money Receiving money from students: No one should accept money from students unless a

receipt is given. Receipt books are located in the school office.

Ordering: All orders (outside of what is provided for in classroom budget) go through the school’s office. If you need to order something, please take the following steps:

1. Request preliminary approval via email from your school director.

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2. After receiving preliminary approval, fill out a purchase order (located in the school office). Attach (paper clip) supporting documentation (the quote, etc.) to the Purchase Order (PO).

3. Submit the PO to your School Director.

4. If approved, the School Director signs and submits the PO to the Executive Director.

5. If approved, the Executive Director signs and submits the PO to the Soulsville Foundation’s CFO.

6. The CFO gives it to the Charter School Assistant.

7. The Charter School Assistant alerts the ED that the PO process is complete and orders the items.

NOTE: All orders need to go through the purchase order process for internal consistency, whether or not the vendor requires one. If the vendor does not require a PO, you may attach (paper clip) the quote to the PO and submit it.Reasonable turnaround (from time of request for preliminary approval to time of order: two days)

DonationsAnyone wishing to make a donation to The Soulsville Charter School should be directed to the Fund Development Office of The Soulsville Foundation. Donations can be made via our website and/or mail. Our website is www.thesoulsvillecharter.org. Our mailing address is 926 E. McLemore Ave., Memphis, TN, 38106.NOTE: If the donation is monetary, please make sure that the donor specifically states that the funds should be directed to The Soulsville Charter School. If the funds are for a particular program in the school, that should also be noted.

Collecting MoneyThis pertains to collection of money from sales of yearbook, chocolate, t-shirts, etc.

1. When students pay, they are given a receipt written by a staff member. (There are receipt books in the school office.)

2. The total money collected should be a. verified by the supervising staff member,b. placed in a sealed envelope with the seal signed and dated by the teacher

and the amount written on the inside flap of the envelope,c. locked inside the cash box (Ask the Office Manager about the cash box.), andd. turned in to a Charter School Assistant who will secure the box for the

evening and will hand-deliver the money to the Accounting Coordinator every day the next morning until the morning after sales are done.

3. The receipt book should be handed to the Charter School Assistant as well so that it can be stored for the evening.

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Check RequestsIf submitted to the Accounting Coordinator by noon on Tuesday, the check can be ready by Friday of the same week.

1. Request preliminary approval via email from your school director.2. After receiving preliminary approval fill out a check request form. Attach

supporting documentation (the quote, etc.) to the check request.3. Submit the check request form to your School Director.4. If approved, the School Director signs and submits the PO to the Executive

Director. 5. If approved, the Executive Director signs and submits the PO to the

Accounting Coordinator to be processed.

Please submit check requests to directors by the close of business on Monday so that directors can process them by Tuesday.

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Our Culture - TNTP · Web viewTotal days for all breaks (vacation / holidays) amount to at least 32...

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Transcript of Our Culture - TNTP · Web viewTotal days for all breaks (vacation / holidays) amount to at least 32...