Lake Ridge Student Handbook

1. A copy of the system-wide calendar is sent home at the beginning of the school year.
2. The attendance policy is placed in the Student Code of Conduct and School Handbooks.
3. “Pay Attention to Attendance” flyer is sent home with every student at the beginning of the school year.
4. Letters are sent to every student who missed 10+ days during the previous school year.
5. At every absence, an automated call/text or email is delivered to the student’s primary contact number.

Violation: The student has acquired five unexcused absences.
1. A conference is held with the student and parent/guardian.
2. The student, parent/guardian, and an attendance supervisor designee will sign an Attendance Contract. The Attendance Contract will include:
    a. A specific description of the school’s attendance expectations for the student.
    b. The period for which the contract is in effect.
    c. The consequences for additional absences and alleged school offenses. This may include any disciplinary action and could result in a referral to Juvenile Court.
3. Regularly scheduled follow-up meetings, which may be with the student and the parent/guardian to discuss the student’s progress.
4. An individualized assessment by a school employee of the reasons a student has been absent from school. The employee may refer a student to counseling, community-based services, or other in-school or out-of-school services aimed at addressing the student’s attendance problems.

Violation: The student has acquired ten unexcused absences.
1. Truancy Board will review the case with the family and make the appropriate referrals to community-based services, such as: counseling, parenting classes, in-home services, etc.
2. The case is reviewed with the family every 30 days until the end of the contract.
If the student has further unexcused absences or fails to comply with the contract after progressing to Tier 3, a petition is filed with Juvenile Court.
If the parent/student refuses to participate in any part of the plan, the process will stop and a truancy petition is filed.

It is essential that each student be present every day school is in session. Research indicates there is a direct correlation between school attendance and success in school. We believe it is important to expect and to assist students in being in school and on time. Students who are present at school derive maximum benefit from the instructional program and develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility.
1. Appointments should be scheduled outside of the school day, when possible, and vacations during the appointed breaks.

2. The implementation of the progressive truancy intervention plan will begin after five (5) unexcused absences:
    a. Tier 1 – System-wide Preventative Action-communication from school regarding attendance, automated call or text to parents on every absence, home visits, community awareness, and school wide incentives for good attendance.
    b. Tier 2- The student has acquired five unexcused absences-a meeting is held at the school with parent/guardian, student and school attendance team. An attendance contract\is created with strategies to improve student attendance.
    c. Tier 3-The student continues to accumulate unexcused absences-The student is referred to the Johnson City School’s Truancy Board. The case will be reviewed and appropriate community based referrals will be made, such as counseling, parenting classes, in-home services, etc.

If the student has further unexcused absences or fails to comply with the contract after progressing to Tier 3, a petition is filed with Juvenile Court.
If the parent/student refuses to participate in any part of the plan, the process will stop and a truancy petition is filed.

3. A student must be in school for 3 hours and 31 minutes to be considered present for the day.

4. If a student is not feeling well, they are allowed five (5) absences per year, without going to a doctor. A written parent note is required upon the student returning to school.
    a. After the allowed five (5) parent note days, a doctor/dentist note is required for additional absences.

5. Parents should call the school by 9:00 a.m. when their child will be absent. After an absence, our policy requires that a written excuse from the parent or a doctor's excuse, be sent to the office the day the child returns to school.

6. A student is allowed three (3) parent request days per year. The principal must approve parent request days.

7. Johnson City School Board Policy 6.200 states “Upon recommendation of the principal, students in grades K-8 who are absent more than twenty (20) days may not be promoted to the next grade. All absences, excused or unexcused, are counted in the maximum number of days that may be missed during a session or school year.”

Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal. Excused absences include principal approved absences of up to three (3) days per school year as requested by the parent/legal guardian. No student will be allowed to use these absences during standardized testing dates. Work missed during the absence must be made up before the absence or upon return to school. Parents/guardians must email the principal to request a parent request day.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as the total number of days missed (excused or unexcused) equals 10% or more of the school year. Missing more than 16 total days in the school year results in chronic absentee status.

• 3 unexcused tardies/early dismissals - warning from attendance administrator
• 6 unexcused tardies/early dismissals - parent/guardian contact/school consequence: lunch detention
• 9 unexcused tardies/early dismissals - parent/guardian contact/school consequence: lunch detention
• 12 unexcused tardies/early dismissals - administration referral/follow up parent contact/school consequence: in-school suspension

*A parent/guardian can meet with the attendance liaison and building administrator to avoid the student receiving a consequence for unexcused tardies.

• Science Hill School (all campuses) 7:40 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
• Liberty Bell Middle School 7:40 a.m. – 2:40 p.m.
• Indian Trail Intermediate School 7:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.
• Elementary Schools (all campuses) 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. for all grades K-5. YOUR CHILD SHOULD ARRIVE AT SCHOOL NO EARLIER THAN 7:45 a.m. Students arriving between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. should report to the cafeteria if they are eating breakfast and the little theater if not. Students in need of care before 7:45 a.m. will need to register for morning EDUCARE provided at $2.00 per day with the exception of those that attend morning activities such as drum circle, running club, etc.

Please do not leave students unattended prior to 7:45 a.m.

Children may be picked up at the designated area at 3:15 p.m. Kindergarten through second grade will be dismissed first.
The following are the forms of dismissal:

• Car: All car riders will be given a card with the name of their teacher to be displayed in the driver’s side window. Morning car riders will enter through the front doors, afternoon carline will exit through designated areas.
• Walker: All walkers will be given a card with the name of their teacher to be displayed by the parent upon arrival.
• Bus: All bus riders will enter and exit through the gym doors. Walkers will exit through the designated area.

Prompt pick-up is the expectation as there is no supervision after 3:30 p.m. Parents are not permitted to drop-off or pick-up students in the Bus Loading Area. Please refrain from bringing dogs to pick-up areas.

All accidents must be reported immediately to the teacher on duty or the classroom teacher. Teachers complete an accident report form, and immediate efforts are made to contact parents or guardians. An emergency contact and number must also be on file. You can provide this information to the school on the enrollment card.

The School Board of Johnson City has adopted a Code of Conduct and Discipline. Parents are responsible for informing their children of its contents. Our school will comply with the revised Code of Student Conduct.

Students are under the authority of the principal and are subject to the principal’s discipline as provided by Tennessee Statutes. The administration of discipline by principals and teachers is authorized as provided in Tennessee Statutes. “Grounds for disciplinary action are willful disobedience of school personnel or other persons delegated by the principal; open defiance of authority of school personnel or other persons delegated by the principal; violence against person or property; any act that disrupts the orderly operation of the school or school processes and activities; and willful disobedience of school rules.”

We operate on the premise that the school has the responsibility to ensure that no student’s learning will be infringed upon by another student’s misbehavior. Each child has a right to an education in a positive, safe learning environment. The faculty and principal maintain student behavior; however, repeated misbehavior is the responsibility of the parents. Minor offenses will be handled through parent-teacher contact. Students who continue to be disruptive, disrespectful, disobedient, or defiant will be removed from class. Parents will be notified if their child is removed for disciplinary reasons and may need to come to school to pick up their child. Students may receive school work which may count towards their average. The principal will make the final decision concerning work completed for a grade during a suspension.

Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending themselves.
Bullying Behavior is defined by three components:

1. Involves aggressive behavior
2. Typically involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time
3. Imbalance of power or strength

Actions, words, intimidation, cyberbullying, or other forms of bullying that cause embarrassment, fear, or humiliation to another person are considered harassment. Harassment is neither condoned nor tolerated. Students who feel they have been bullied or harassed should report it to an administrator, counselor, teacher, or other school staff member.
Board Policy – The Johnson City Board of Education has determined that a safe, civil, and supportive environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. In order to maintain that environment, acts of bullying, cyber-bullying, discrimination (including the definition of antisemitism found in policy 4.100), harassment, hazing or any other victimization of students, based on any actual or perceived traits or characteristics, are prohibited. 1. This policy shall be disseminated annually to all school staff, students, and parents.2 This policy shall cover employees, employees' behaviors, students and students' behaviors while on school property, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school bus stop. If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, this policy is in effect only if the conduct is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process. Building administrators are responsible for educating and training their respective staff and students as to the definition and recognition of discrimination/harassment.

Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending themselves. Bullying/Intimidation/Harassment – can take the form of an act that substantially interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and the act has the effect of:

• Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;
• Knowingly placing a student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property;
• Causing emotional distress to a student or students; or
• Creating a hostile educational environment.

Bullying, intimidation, or harassment may also be unwelcome conduct based on a protected class (race, color, religion, sex, gender, disabilities, national origin, or age) that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment.

A form of bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices. Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, cellular phones or other wireless telecommunication devices, text messaging, emails, social networking sites, instant messaging, videos, web sites, or fake profiles

An intentional or reckless act by a student or group of students that is directed against any other student(s) that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student(s) or that induces or coerces a student to endanger his/her mental or physical health or safety. Coaches and other employees of the school district shall not encourage, permit, condone or tolerate hazing activities “Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or similar contest or competitions and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization.

Parents must bring any medication (prescribed or over-the-counter) that their child needs to take during the day to the school office. Please do not send medication in with your child. No medications will be administered to students unless it has been received directly from the parent.

A prescription form must be completed and signed by the parent and physician before a prescribed medication can be administered to their child.

All prescription medication must be accompanied by a medication administration permission form completed and signed by a physician and a parent. For students requiring emergency medication for a chronic health condition (such as adrenal insufficiency, severe allergy, anaphylaxis, asthma, and seizure), a specific order form is available to assist with the plan of care while at school. Please request from the school nurse, or a copy is available online at https://www.jcschools.org/departments/health-services/medication-and-health-service-forms.

A permission form must be completed and signed by the parent before an over-the-counter medication can be administered to their child. Over-the -counter medication MUST be in original packaging.

Non-prescription medication must be accompanied by a permission for medication administration form completed and signed by the parent. The student's parent/guardian must give permission in writing to administer medications while at school by TCA 49-50-1602(a)(2). Non-prescription medication given regularly will require a physician’s signature. Your child will be limited to 5 doses every 9 weeks unless accompanied by a medication administration permission form completed and signed by a physician. Johnson City Schools will follow the manufacturer's label and/or Johnson City Schools Medical Director's standing orders. Johnson City Schools will not administer any medications that are off-label or not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

• The first dose or administration of any medication should be given at home.
• All controlled substance medications (ADHD meds, etc.) will need to be verified and counted by the nurse or designee once received and when the medication is picked up at the 14 end of the school year. Johnson City Schools will only accept a 30-day supply of controlled medication.
• Prescription medicine must be in a properly labeled prescription bottle. If the medicine is over the counter, it must be in a new and unopened bottle or in a blister pack that is sealed and labeled. Any medicine sent to school loose and unlabeled will not be administered. Expired medication will not be given at school. Johnson City Schools' staff will not administer Complementary or Alternative Medicine (CAM).
• The parent is responsible for picking up any remaining or unused medication. If the parent does not pick up the remaining or unused medication, it will be discarded at the end of the school year unless your child is attending summer school or other arrangements have been made with the school nurse.

must be turned into the office or clinic by a parent/guardian. NO student is to carry prescription or non-prescription medications, unless ordered by a physician and documented in the appropriate form.

The parent is responsible for picking up any remaining or unused medication at the end of the school year or summer school. Any remaining medication will be discarded unless other arrangements have been made with the school nurse.

Parents are called immediately if their student sustains a head injury. Appropriate action will be taken if a serious accident occurs. It is important that emergency phone numbers be up to date in PowerSchool. An accident report will be filled out and kept in the office.

The clinic is open for the duration of the school day every day. Parents will be called if your student is too sick to remain at school. Reasons for calling may include a fever of 100 degrees or higher, vomiting, head lice, or any time that a student is not well enough to complete school activities. Students should be well and fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

The Lake Ridge Art Room is a place where all students can explore the fascinating world of Art. Here, students will be introduced to various materials while mastering art-based techniques. We’ll revisit the fundamentals of drawing, painting, printmaking and working with oil pastels. This year, we will focus on 3-dimensional lessons that include building animal forms, weaving and everyone’s favorite - model magic!
Many of the art lessons center around the foundational practices of the Elements of Art and Principles of Designs to support TN State Standards. These lessons incorporate children’s literature and humanities connections for engaging cross-curricular learning. This creative learning environment allows students to shift their focus and try something tactile, learn a new skill or discover a new hobby or interest. Making art helps to enhance problem-solving skills that work to build adaptability and self-confidence.
We will continue to collaborate with homeroom teachers on specific curricular projects, support the Library Media Center’s Book Club programs, and showcase students’ artworks throughout our community.

The goal of our library at Lake Ridge is that every student would feel welcome and safe in a place where they can develop a love of reading and books. Students will learn information literacy skills and digital citizenship as well as participate weekly in literacy lessons that support classroom standards and instruction. During our library hour students will hear books read aloud, and explore Individual interests during open center time and check out time. Our library is an active, lively place where students are afforded the opportunity to have hands-on experiences in a more relaxed environment.
Our library program also offers enrichment opportunities like after school book club events for different grade levels, summer reading challenges, StarLab portable planetarium programs, public library programs, various Literacy Themed Contests, opportunities for 3D printing and other maker space activities and the largest Scholastic Book Fair in our region. Our book fair will be held October 20-29th with the Change Drive being October 13-17th.
Students check out books weekly during scheduled library time and may also come at other times as allowed by the classroom teacher. We are also open before school at 7:45 on M/W/F for 3rd -5th grade students. This is an opportunity to exchange books or simply start the day in a calm, quiet environment.
Feel free to find out more helpful and current information about our library by clicking the link to the library website on the Lake Ridge homepage.

The music program at Lake Ridge School is committed to developing each student's ability to perform, create, respond, and connect with music at every level of their elementary school journey. Students from all grade levels learn about composers, instruments, performance techniques and various other elements of music during their time in music class. Students will have multiple opportunities to perform throughout their time at Lake Ridge including PTA performances, Lake Ridge Talent Show, JC Schools Rejoice in the Arts, and other opportunities. 4th and 5th grade students will have the option of participating in extracurricular music activities such as Rhythm on the Ridge Drum Circle, Explorers Chorus, and the Ukulele Ensemble.

GYM: Get Yourself Moving!
Physical Education: Learn to Move, Move to Learn!
Every class, every day, we work on physical fitness: cardio-endurance, flexibility, and muscular strength through a variety of exercises, activities and sports! Lake Ridge has the best rock climbing wall in the city, which was purchased by our wonderful PTA from Explorer Expedition funds raised by our hardworking students! Rock climbing is offered monthly to all students, and not only does it work on physical fitness but also problem solving skills. Through our system’s coordinated health program, we share many movement units with all Johnson City elementary schools, such as bowling, nutrition, tennis, and the popular Heart Adventure Program. Coach Kuziola offers an early morning running club for any 4th or 5th grade student. Two sessions of training are offered each year: eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the spring. Any students interested should contact Coach K. Students need to wear tennis shoes on their PE day .

The Lake Ridge STEAM Lab is a place where students get to engage their minds with challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics! Each day in the Lab, students enhance their creativity and problem solving skills while strengthening the connections between their left and right brains. We practice a growth based mindset by Striving for Greatness and we learn collaboration by working together towards common goals. Our mission in the STEAM Lab is to get everyone excited about learning while also developing real world applicable skills needed to thrive going forward!

Welcome to our Lake Ridge Science Lab—where curiosity comes to life! Science lab is a place where you come and ask questions about the world around you. A place of discovery! In the science lab, we often work in cooperative groups. In these groups, we struggle with challenges, and we view failure as a stepping stone to success. With this mindset, students share their own ideas and learn from each other’s mistakes. Science lab sometimes overlaps with science curriculum in the regular classroom to reinforce concepts learned throughout the year. In this class, the end result is not always the most important. Sometimes in life, you have to celebrate the journey, not just the destination.