• There will be a general meeting in the High School Gym.
• Students will go to their respective HOME ROOMS after the assembly.

• Sponsors will be given student packets on Monday, August 10^th .
• Sponsors--Have students fill out white registration sheets. Be sure a correct address, phone number, social security number, and schedule are included. Turn in all personal information corrections to the office so changes can be made in the computer.
• If a student shows up to your class and is not on your roster nor can produce documentation showing they are in your class, send them to the counselor’s office with a pass. New students should also be sent to the counselor.
• Elect Class officers--President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and 2 Student Council members (1 boy and 1 girl).
• Classes--All students will report to first hour following class meeting. All morning classes will meet on an abbreviated schedule.
• Students packet- Students should return the following to 1^st hour teacher:

1. Student Profile Sheet
2. Lunch form (whether student qualifies or not)
3. Health Form (nurse)
4. Student Handbook Signature Form (signed by parent and student)

Orientation of students the first few days is most important. The following suggestions are strongly recommended to be published and in the hands of students the first week of school:

• Supplies needed
• Major units--approximate date of coverage
• Grading techniques
• Written work-procedures
• Conduct and routine expectations
• Miscellaneous (safety procedures, special care of equipment, etc.)

All teaching personnel are accountable from 8:00 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Please notify the office if you must leave during the school day. All teachers are vitally needed to supervise their teaching area, halls, and restrooms between classes. (Please do not shirk your responsibility)!

From time to time, it is necessary that everyone assume some responsibility which was not originally intended. One of the marks of a good citizen in any community is his or her willingness and enthusiasm to accept responsibility over and above the call of duty. Teachers will be assigned certain duties and responsibilities which may or may not come under the direct functions of a particular department. These duties and responsibilities will be assigned with judgment and for a good reason and it is expected that they will be carried out with a spirit of cooperation which will result in a better school and a more pleasant environment for everyone. Please be receptive when you are asked to cover a class for a colleague - You may later need the favor done for you.

Faculty meetings will be held the first Friday of every month. All teachers will be expected to attend faculty meetings unless specific arrangements have been made with the principal in advance. At least twenty-four hours notice will be given, if possible. Please plan on being in attendance when a faculty meeting is held.

Student use of the office telephone is not normally permitted. Messages will be delivered to students only in case of emergency. The office will not grant an excused tardy for a student who is late due to using the phone unless prior arrangements have been made. Do not permit students to leave class to go use the phone!!!

Checks will be issued on the 10^th and 25^th of each month.

If you are planning a field trip or other activity out of your classroom, get the principal's approval at least two (2) weeks in advance. A bus request form must be filled out and returned to the principal to obtain a bus. In addition, individual student permission forms signed by a parent/guardian are needed on each student participating in the trip. This is the responsibility of the sponsor or coach to see that this policy is enforced.

• Information obtained by school officials concerning pupils in the schools is for the educational purpose of furthering their educational welfare.
• There is a definite obligation and responsibility for those entrusted with such confidential information to maintain it in strict confidence and to use it only for the purpose for which it was obtained.
• Employee breach of confidential information could result in termination of that employee.

Every student leaving the building before the end of the school day will sign out in the office. Every student returning to school after signing out or arriving after the initial 8:20 a.m bell will sign in at the office. Students arriving late should have a tardy slip from the office.

Report promptly any school property that needs attention, such as broken windows, damaged shades, broken chairs or desks, and any markings or defacement of property and/or buildings. Requests for custodial services should be made through the office.

Students are our most important product. If we make productive citizens of our students, we will have done our job. Mutual respect is something for which all must strive. It is important that at all times we treat each student with respect. A "Golden Rule" to follow is: Treat Others In The Way You Would Like Them To Treat You. We must remember that we are the professionals and we must act accordingly even under the most "trying" circumstances. The young people look to teachers for direction and correction. It must be given to them. Teachers are encouraged to become familiar with the Student Handbook and the Board of Education Policy Manual.

All grades should be entered into the S.T.I. grade book program at least every three weeks. Teachers should also keep a hard copy of grades in the grade book provided by the office. Student attendance must also be recorded in the hard copy grade book.

Each course consists of a series of orderly, sequential, and coordinated lessons. Students are evaluated on their performance, and this performance provides the basis for their course grade. The overall course grade is based on factors which may include but are not limited to daily preparation, quizzes, tests, essays, reports, presentations, class participation, term papers, conditions of assignments and tests (including neatness, spelling, grammar, and mechanics), punctuality, and attendance.

The following uniform scale for determining letter grades for grades seven (7) through twelve (12) will be used:

The standard marking system is as follows:

95-100 A   85-87 B     75-77 C     65-67 D

90-94 A-   80-84  B-    70-74 C-    60-64 D-

               88-89 B+      78-79 C+  68-69 D+     0-59 F

Should a student make an "F" the first quarter and a grade higher than an "F" the second quarter, the student will receive a semester grade by using the point system by averaging the two number grades together to obtain the semester grade. This rule shall also apply to grades for the third and fourth quarter. The semester grade will be determined by averaging the two grades.

All teachers will be issued plan books at the beginning of the school year. Lesson plans should be written in a manner which gives specific references to your curriculum (if available). Lesson plans are not just for substitute teachers, it should serve as your daily guide for instruction. Please develop and maintain lesson plans in advance between one and two weeks.

Each teacher shall be responsible for preparing an inventory of items under their control. This should be up to date and should list all items appearing at the beginning of the year, as well as, any items received during the year.

The typical classroom inventory usually lists items such as: textbooks, resource books, shelves, student desks, file cabinets, teacher desks, computers, VCR’s, Televisions, and other like items. A sponsor or coaches inventory may include items such as: equipment such as basketballs, baseballs, bats, helmets, gloves, uniforms, warm-ups, jerseys, etc. When appropriate, be sure to include the serial number and brand name.

All items should be given a value as well as how you rate the overall condition of each particular item or set. All items are to be added together to accumulate an overall net worth of items that have been placed in your domain. The inventory is due at the end of each school year.

Teachers should notify and/or request a conference with the parent when the student has received his/her third (3^rd) failed assignment. This may be done preferrably by phone (all student numbers are available in the office). If the student does not have a phone, a written notice by mail should be provided. The teacher should keep on file documentation that these efforts have been made. The principal will be available to provide assistance in contacting the parent if problems occur.

• Any written announcements will be put on the daily bulletin sheet and read at the beginning of 2^nd hour.
• Turn in all written announcements to the office prior to the start of the school day.
• Check with the office concerning any questions or clarification of any announcement on the daily bulletin.

Homework should be an integral part of the instructional program; however, you must keep in mind that "busy" work, or increasing the quantity of work, will have little effect upon the quality of the instructional program. Homework should be designed to give quality to the instructional program, broadening the base of the material presented, and elevating the standard of performance of the individual student. If homework cannot meet this criteria, then one should question its value as a part of the instructional program in the school.

Many times instructors comment on the amount of class time lost through interruptions to the daily schedule. This is true, but I would like to point out the amount of time that can be lost during a school year by virtue of poor utilization of scheduled time. Let us assume an instructor wasted 3 minutes per day because of a poor start or early termination of instruction. This would total 522 minutes, or approximately 10 class periods or 2 weeks of school time. Minutes lost per day are costly. Plan to utilize every minute of the period as efficiently as possible.

Many times a behavior problem will arise as a result of the unstructured time that students have either at the beginning or near the end of a class period. It is strongly recommended that teachers provide a portion of the period for supervised study. Strive for Bell-to-Bell teaching.

Whenever it is necessary for students to be sent from the classroom, teachers are to send a "pass" with the student. Students caught in the hall without a pass will be placed in ISS for the remainder of the class period. Students assigned to your class are your responsibility.

A building wide goal this school year will be to have everyone strive to keep student hall traffic during the school day to a bare minimum. This will take everyone’s cooperation.

Do not take a student out of another teacher's class without first talking to the teacher, explaining the need, and securing full permission. Do not send a student to ask, it is the responsibility of the teacher making the request to gain approval.

Teachers are responsible for the neatness and general condition of their individual rooms. In some departments where two or more teachers use the same rooms or facilities, there should be good understanding and cooperation concerning the management of the room and equipment concerned. This should be established as early as possible.

Be especially careful about students scooting chairs against the wall of the room and check desks frequently for marks or damage. It is important to remove or clean any markings from student desks promptly..

Dismissal of pupils from classes other than at scheduled periods is to be done only with the knowledge and consent of the principal. If a teacher wishes the services of a student who is scheduled in another class, both teachers must approve this request. Students with a failing grade are not to be released from class.

Teachers should act quickly but with good judgment in case of accidents. If it is a minor accident, send the student (with another one) to the Principal's office. If the accident is serious, do not move the person. Call the office for help. DO NOT (except in an extreme emergency) leave your classroom under the supervision of a student.

Teachers should make the maximum use of services and help of the counselor. Teachers should contact the counselor in regard to individual problems, as well as, group problems. Consult the counselor on the individual and group testing that is available. If you notice any change in behavior of a particular student, scholastically, physically, etc., please call it to the principal's or counselor's attention. Please contact the counselor before sending students to the office for appointments, as well as, fill out the counseling referral sheet for the student at hand.

One of the goals of any school is to promote the self-discipline of its students. This begins with a teaching staff who set a good example by demonstrating good planning and practicing self-discipline themselves. Decide on three or four simple rules of acceptable conduct, post them, and be consistent in upholding them.

1. The biggest deterrent to unacceptable classroom behavior is the practice of preventive discipline.

• Begin class as soon as the bell rings. Make it obvious you have important work to do and you are prepared. Have a short review quiz or other activity for the students to do while you take attendance.
• Plan an activity for every learning style every class period. Most students cannot sustain one activity for 50 minutes. They need several varied, shorter activities.
• While routine is important, occasional "surprises" keep everyone alert.

• If it becomes necessary to reprimand a student, make it as unobtrusive as possible. A confrontation in front of classmates sometimes escalates a simple situation.
• Ridicule or demeaning behavior is not acceptable between students. It is even less acceptable between teachers and students.
• If a student appears to have a "side" to tell, listen, if possible. On the other hand, if the incident begins to take away from the learning time of other students, make a time to discuss it later - then follow through.

1. Assign consequences that may help remedy the behaviors that brought them on. These consequences should be discussed before a problem arises. This is not an area in which surprises are appropriate.

The Student Code of Conduct is designed to foster student responsibility, respect for others, and to provide for the orderly operation of district schools. No code can be expected to list each and every offense that may result in disciplinary action. However, it is the purpose of this code to list certain offenses which, if committed by a student, will result in the imposition of a certain disciplinary action. Any conduct not included herein, or an aggravated circumstance of any offense or an action involving a combination of offenses may result in disciplinary consequences that extend beyond this code of conduct as determined by the principal, superintendent and/or Board of Education. In extraordinary circumstances where the minimum consequence is judged by the superintendent or designee to be manifestly unfair or not in the interest of the district, the superintendent or designee may reduce the consequences listed in this policy, as allowed by law. This code includes, but is not necessarily limited to, acts of students on school property, including playgrounds, parking lots and school transportation, or at a school activity, whether on or off school property. Refer to student handbook for the guidelines of student discipline.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are a necessary part of our business. The office will help in making appointments for teachers. Teachers are encouraged to have their grade book, a sampling of tests and other work completed by the student, and any other data that you feel is relevant during a parent/teacher conference. A good conference is when the problem is stated and clarified - the teacher states the facts and then listens during most of the remaining conference time. Conferences should be kept short. Teachers should be courteous at all times. Strive to end every conference by thanking the parent for being involved in their child's school life. Teachers are encouraged to contact the parents by phone or letter as soon as a problem area is noticed.

Attendance must also be recorded in your attendance book. Attendance and tardies should be entered during the first 10 minutes of class. When absences occur, it is the responsibility of the student to make satisfactory arrangements with the teacher in securing the necessary assignments needed to be made-up.

Absenteeism hampers educational achievement and is detrimental to vocational and academic success. Parents, students, and teachers all share in the responsibility for encouraging regular attendance. The following policy has been designed and hereby adopted to provide a framework for ensuring responsible attendance by all students. The "Compulsory Attendance Law" of the state of Missouri requires that all students must attend school until the age of sixteen.

Each period will count 1/7 of a school day. Students will be allowed 8 absences in each class per semester. Students that exceed 8 absences in a class will be allowed to make up work during Saturday Detention. Students that have 9 or more absences in any class will not be allowed to participate in or attend ANY extracurricular activities (including Prom, Graduation, ballgames, and parking on school property) for the reminder of the semester.

Students that have 9 or more absences in any class will be required to attend 2 Saturday Detentions to make up 1 absence. Students will follow the Saturday Detention Policy while attending Attendance Recovery.

The duties of the substitute teacher will be much easier to complete if the classroom teacher has done their job. The classroom atmosphere needs to be maintained as much as possible so that the substitute will face little disruption.

Several things will make it easier for the substitute to do their job well and will precipitate a much smoother return for the regular classroom teacher.

• Seating charts and class rosters.
• Detailed lesson plans should be left for the substitute. Lesson plans need to include meaningful exercises. The teacher should avoid just having a "study period".
• A list of specific classroom rules that the students need to follow should be available.
• The classroom teacher needs to make sure that all video aids or special equipment needs for the class are readily available.
• The classroom teacher also needs to make sure that all extra materials (e.g. Xerox copies) are completed for the substitute.
• Teacher's editions for a particular grade or subject matter should be available on or in the teacher's desk.

• Practice impartiality toward all students.
• Always keep the confidence of a student, or confidential information regarding that student.
• Treat all pupils with equal respect.
• Criticism of school regulations before students in any fashion is a serious breech of professional ethics.
• Insist on your students addressing you properly, gain their respect through sincere professional relations.

• Avoid criticism of predecessors.
• Avoid criticism of fellow teachers and other schools.
• Readily accept the classification of pupils as recorded.
• Discuss the work of no teacher with anyone. Neither by looks or by voice criticize or belittle the work of an associate.
• Be helpful and cordial toward new teachers and substitutes, granting them the same professional courtesy you desire.

• Administrative position denotes position of responsibility rather than personal rank.
• Refrain from idle-moment discussion of school policies with a group either in school or out.
• Take any suggestions to your principal.
• Respect and observe all official decisions even though they may not be in agreement with your judgments.
• There should be cooperation between administrators and classroom teachers, founded upon sympathy for each other's point of view and recognition of the administrator's right to leadership and the teacher's right to self-expression. Both teachers and administrators should observe professional courtesy by transacting official business with the properly designated person next in the chain-of-command.

• Accept a professional responsibility toward the community.
• Be a loyal and active member of the community in which you work.
• Establish respect among the business people of the community by being prompt in all obligations, both socially and in business matters.
• Support the local businesses financially whenever possible. Most of them do a lot for the school.
• Study to understand the possible educational contributions of your community and use them to the fullest advantages.
• Study and encourage parent and school relationships in order to build a wholesome influence in the community.

When it becomes necessary to send a student to the office, a disciplinary referral should be filled out. Please provide detailed information on what the student did to warrant them being sent to the office. If it is not possible to send the referral with the student, please try and send the referral within a short period of time. It is difficult for the office to take action when all the circumstances are not known.

Staff members are strongly encouraged to attend as many co-curricular activities as possible. This shows that you are interested in fellow colleagues and the student body. Show an interest in your school. Be visible.

Assemblies will be held at various times during the school year. Each teacher will be responsible for the conduct of his/her students during an assembly. Teachers that have a planning period during the scheduled assembly are expected to attend the assembly, unless prior arrangements have been made with principal.

Any teacher wanting to take his/her class out of the building should inform the office.

Grade reports will be sent out to all students. The schedule of these reports are as follows:

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 14^TH

All staff members are encouraged to dress in a professional manner each school day. In addition, causual day will be every Friday if there is a need for you to dress casual for personal or school related fuctions please feel free to contact Mr. Snider.

A FIRE ALARM will be announced by a series of short rings.. Move students out of the building in an orderly fashion as quickly as possible. Have them remain well clear of the building until the all clear signal is given (One long ring of the school bell.)

A STORM ALARM will be announced by on long ring. Students should be moved to inner hallways away from glass areas and instructed to sit on the floor covering their heads with their arms. Students should remain in this position until the clear signal (one long ring of the school bell).

EARTHQUAKE DRILLS will be practiced throughout the school year. Students will be instructed in the "Duck and Cover" method of protection. In case of an actual Earthquake, students will be escorted away from the building as soon as it is safe.

In all drills, it is important that students move quickly and orderly.

The school budget is prepared by the superintendent and his staff and approved by the Board of Education. Purchase Orders will be distributed in April and need to be turned back into the Princiapal’s Office before or on the 2^nd Thursday of May. The Purchase Orders will then be approved or declined by the administration in a timely fashion.

Local merchants should be given first consideration when supplies are being purchased and the quality and price are comparable.

The mailing address for the school is Cooter R-IV School District, P.O. Box 218, 1867 State Hwy E, Cooter, Mo. 63839. Use this address for all correspondence.

2010-2011 School Year

Period 3: 10:06 – 10:56

Academic Team Mrs. Kathy Campbell

Baseball Mr. Allen Crawford – Head Coach

Mr. Jordan Ellsworth – Assistant Coach

Mr. Josh Teeter – Assistant Coach

Basketball Mr. Brian Brandtner – Head Coach

Mr. Jordan Ellsworth – Assistant Coach

BETA Club Mrs. Kathy Campbell

Cheerleaders Mrs. Tonya Childers – Head Coach

Mrs. Ashley Gallant – Assistant Coach

FBLA Mrs. Tamara Arands

Student Council Mr. Josh Teeter

Volleyball Mrs. Jennifer Ray

Yearbook Mrs. Tamara Arands

Fall Dance Mr. JoshTeeter

Mrs. Tamara Arands

Homecoming Dance Mrs. Tonya Childers

Mrs. Ashley Gallant

Homecoming Ceremony Mrs. Tamara Arands

Mrs. Linda Donovan

Prom Mrs. Jennifer Ray

Mrs. Jane Mathis

Mr. David Walls

Graduation Ceremony Mrs. Jennifer Ray

Mrs. Tamara Arands

Mrs. Linda Donovan

Senior Brunch Mrs. Jennifer Ray

Mrs. Jane Mathis

Mr. David Walls

The class you are assigned to is the class you assist with during class meetings and assemblies. *Homeroom

7th Grade *Mr. Brian Brandtner

8th Grade *Mrs. Tammy Payne

Mrs. Shirley Johnson

9th Grade *Mr. Josh Teeter

Mr. Jimmy McFarland

Mr. Jordan Ellsworth

10th Grade *Mrs. Hallie Callens

Mr. David Waldron

Mrs. Lynda Abanathy

Mrs. Linda McClanahan

11th Grade *Mrs. Jane Mathis

Mrs. Jennifer Ray

Mr. Davis Walls

12th Grade *Mrs. Kathy Campbell

Mrs. Linda Donovan

Mrs. Tamra    

COOTER R-IV SCHOOL DISTRICT

FACULTY HANDBOOK

POLICIES & PROCEDURES