General Information

24-25 Calendar

The Tupelo Public School District serves the community by engaging each
student in an excellent education that develops skills and citizenship
needed for success in a global society.
 

                                                               1. Increase student achievement across the district.
                                                         2. Provide a safe, secure and orderly environment in all schools.
                                                                          3. Attract and retain all stakeholders.
                                                                          4. Maintain Sound financial stability.

 

Board Members: Mr. Paul Mize, Mrs. Amy Tate, Mr. John Milstead,
Mrs. Sherry Davis, Dr. Rob Picou, Superintendent, Mrs. Hope Huey

 

The Tupelo Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities.  The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:  

Director of Human Resources/TPSD Administrative Office Post Office Box 557  
Tupelo, MS  38802  
662-841-8850

Carver Elementary School is a safe and secure learning environment. The committed Carver staff provides an atmosphere of challenging academic programs that will promote lifelong learning, responsibility, principles of citizenship and wise decision making.  We are committed to providing arts and arts integrated experiences to our students during instruction in the general classroom.  High expectations with accountability for all students and staff create a vibrant school community.

 

Greatness Begins at CARVER!!

Arrival Time

A safe and secure learning environment is our top priority.  Adult supervision begins at 7:15 a.m. each morning. Please do not drop off a student until a staff member is outside at carpool. Carpool students should be dropped off in the carpool lane. Please do not enter the parking lot to drop off or pick up students. Bus riders will unload and load from the drive-thru at the front of the school. Only buses and day care vans can drop off in the front of the school from 7:15 a.m.- 7:50 a.m.

After 7:50 a.m., your child is considered tardy and parents must park their vehicle and walk their child(ren) to the office to sign them in. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep our students safe.

Breakfast service begins at 7:15 a.m. Students will be allowed to enter their classrooms at 7:25 a.m. Instructional time begins promptly when students enter the classrooms.

Tardy

A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom by 7:50 a.m.  Unexcused tardies are monitored by school personnel.  If the student is tardy, the parent is required to walk his/her child into the school and sign him/her in. Please do not drop off your child in front of the building after 7:50 a.m. There will not be a staff member present there to ensure safety. 

Staff members are on duty from 7:15 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. to help children get into the building safely.  Children are allowed to open their own car doors and exit onto the sidewalk.  For safety reasons, please have students seated behind the driver and have them exit on the left side of the car. Often staff members open the car doors to assist students and expedite the process. The carpool lane will be blocked at 7:45 a.m. If you are not in the carpool line by 7:45 a.m., you must go to the front entrance of the school and sign your child in at the office.

Dismissal

Staggered dismissal starts at 2:40 p.m. Students will be dismissed to authorized persons only as indicated on the student information/ emergency form. Always notify your child’s teacher, in writing, of any change in procedures or change in person(s) picking him/her up. Students will be dismissed in the same way every day unless written notice is received informing us of the change. To ensure the safety of all students, transportation changes will not be accepted by phone.  It is urgent that parents pick up students promptly after the 2:40 p.m. afternoon dismissal.

 

Bus Transportation and Conduct

Staff members on duty will walk bus students in line to the dismissal area in front of the school. Students will be dismissed as a group by bus number. Carver staff will remain with students until the students are seated on the bus with the driver.

Transportation to school via bus is a privilege extended to students who qualify under state regulation and who obey the code of conduct for bus transportation. See Student Conduct for Bus Conduct Policy.

 

Daycare Students

Students will dismiss from their classrooms. When the daycare van arrives, those students will be walked to the loading area at the front of the school. Staff members on duty will remain with students until the students are seated on the van with the driver.

 

Car Riders

Car riders are loaded near the playground area. (Kindergarten on the left, and first grade on the right.) Students who ride home in cars should dismiss through the car rider line.

Walkers

A staff member will meet parents at the front entrance of the school with students who walk home.

 

** Students will not be allowed to go to another classroom after school to wait on another student.  They should meet outside. 

**Children are not allowed to go back into the buildings unsupervised. Teachers will allow students to use the restroom before dismissal, if requested. Leaving the bus or other dismissal area causes a delay for others at Carver and at Lawhon, our feeder school.
 

Early Departure from School

Parents are strongly encourage to schedule their child's doctor, dental, and other appointments after school hours. If this is not possible, send a note to the teacher on the day of the appointment. Upon arrival, go the the office to sign your child out. While you are signing the check out sheet, the secretary will page your child to come to the office. The school office is extremely busy around dismissal time. Check.outs for K-1 students after 2:15 p.m. will not be permitted unless there is an emergency. Getting to school late or leaving early is detrimental to the education of your child. Please help us model respect for the school day. Instructional time is valued and protected by our staff. A parent or guardian must sign out students who are leaving during school hours. Only persons listed on the student emergency card will be allowed to check the student out.

 

Tardies, Checkouts, and Absences – This year, we are focusing on decreasing tardies. Please ensure your child arrives at school on time. All children need a full day of instruction to help them be successful. Give your child the gift of knowledge.

Fact:  Students who check out frequently, those who are late to school, arriving after 7:50 a.m., frequently, and those who are absent often have academic problems. Many of the children who fall into these categories have to repeat at least one grade before third grade.  As a parent, please support your child in getting to school on time, being at school each day, and staying at school all day.

 

Tardy

A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom by 7:50 a.m.  Unexcused tardies are monitored by school personnel.  If the student is tardy, the parent is required to walk his/her child into the school and sign him/her in. Please do not drop off your child in front of the building after 7:50 a.m. There will not be a staff member present there to ensure safety. 

 

Attendance – JBD TPSD Board Policy  
To be considered as having attended school for a full day, a student must be present for 63% of his/her instructional day as fixed by the Board for each individual school. For purposes of reporting absenteeism, a student who has an absence that is more than 37% of the student's instructional day shall be considered absent the entire school day.  

1. Excused Absences shall include:
    a.    Parental Excused Absences
Students are allowed to have a maximum of three (3) excused parental absences per semester. Parental absences must be substantiated in writing within 2 school days of the absence. A parent/guardian can substantiate the absence by sending a signed note, emailing or faxing to the school attendance office. The note must have the child’s first and last name and date of absence(s). A parent signed checkout will also substantiate a parental excused absence. A parental excused absence may be for one class, any 30-minute period within a class or an entire day.

    b.    Medical Excused Absences
Students are allowed excused medical absences when the absences result from illness or injury which prevents the student from being physically able to attend school; a medical or dental appointment; isolation ordered by the county health officer, and State Board of Health or appropriate school official.  Excuses from the doctor or dentist must be substantiated in writing within 2 school days of the absence.

Unexcused Absences- Any absence, tardy or dismissal, which does not meet the criteria of an excused absence, shall be considered unexcused.  No absence will be considered excused when it is due to suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action. 
 

Tardy Plan
 

# of Tardies	Consequence
5th	Letter explaining tardies
10th	Overnight Required Conference with student's parent
15th	Parent contact by phone Student will be excluded from special/extracurricular activities for the remainder of the term
17th	Parent contact by phone. 1/2 Day ISS for student
19th	Parent contact by phone. 1 Day ISS for student
20th	DHS Referral

 

 

All students will be given an application for free and reduced lunches. Children are not labeled or treated differently upon receipt of this opportunity. The school system is required to provide every parent with the opportunity to apply. The Carver cafeteria serves two meals each day. Breakfast is served from 7:15 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. each day. Lunch is served between 10:50 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  The menu is published weekly in the local newspaper and on the district’s web site www.tupeloschools.com.  Although meals may be purchased on a daily basis, students are encouraged to pay by the week. Money is collected on Monday mornings. Students who choose to bring their lunch are encouraged to pack a healthy, nutritious meal. They may purchase milk from the cafeteria. Parents and other visitors who wish to eat lunch in the cafeteria should notify the office by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the visit with a note or a phone call. The cafeteria must have a lunch count each morning.

 

Each day, students will have a working snack time in class. Students should bring a healthy, nut-free snack to school. Healthy meal choices are also available for purchase in the cafeteria. Please send only nut-free snacks and lunch items. Many students have food allergies.

 

Current meal prices are found on the Tupelo Public School District website.

Staff and Visitor’s Lunch Price - $ 4.25 per lunch meal

Student Lunch Price: PreK - $2.75, K-12^th grades - $3.00,  Reduced Lunch Price - $0.40

  

Parents may apply for free or reduced lunches.  If you have not received an application, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher or call the office.  You may also find an application by visiting www.myschoolapps.com . 

 

On-line payments for meals can be made through myschoolbucks.com.  At no charge, Parents may create an account in order to have emails sent to their home or phone to notify of low meal balances.  Parents may check their child's meal account balance at any time at no charge.  A very small fee is charged when parents prepay money into their child's meal account.  This on-line service includes breakfast and lunch meals. 

 

Drills

Carver School will conduct safety drills according to state regulations.  We will have fire drills, tornado drills, evacuation drills, lock down drills and earthquake drills.  These drills are in place to help students and staff members know what to do in case a real situation occurs.  We encourage students to stay calm and follow procedures.  Parent and other guests present in the building during one of these drills will be asked to participate.

Enrollment Procedures:
Enrollment Policy

Student Withdrawals

If you need to withdraw your child from school, come by the office to inform us of the date your child will be withdrawing and the new school the student will be attending. We will complete a withdrawal form for the student to take to his new school. Student records are sent to the next school when requested by that school.  Remember to return all textbooks and library books to school and pay any outstanding debts prior to withdrawal. 

Carver Elementary Handbook is provided as a reference and information guide to all parents and  students. While it contains policies current at the time of printing, we are constantly reviewing and updating policies. Therefore, the Handbook may not always reflect the most current policy. All policies and procedures summarized in this Student Handbook are subject to unilateral change at the sole option and discretion of the Tupelo Public School District.
 

Literacy Statement:

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, a student scoring at the lowest achievement level in reading on the established state assessment for 3rd grade will not be promoted to 4th grade unless the student meets the good cause exemptions for promotion.

VISITORS:  

The principal is responsible for all persons in the building and on the campus and will schedule through his/her designee visits from parents, community members, and other educational professionals. The following policy applies to all visitors entering a school other than for attendance at a scheduled activity open to the general public:  In order to assure that no unauthorized persons enter the school with wrongful intent, all visitors will report to the school office when entering to receive authorization and identification passes to visit elsewhere in the building.  Parents or citizens who wish to observe a classroom while school is in session must arrange such visits in advance with the principal so that classroom disruption will be minimal.  Principals are authorized to refuse entry onto school grounds to persons who do not have legitimate business at the school and to request any unauthorized person or persons engaging in unacceptable conduct to immediately leave school property. Principals are further authorized to request assistance of law enforcement officers in cases of emergency and to seek prosecution to the full extent of the law when persons violate the intent of this policy.
 

Parent/Visitor Parking

Please do not park in front of the school during drop off and pick up times.  This will block the traffic flow and can become a safety hazard. 
 

Personal Items

Children should bring to school only the materials/supplies that are necessary and requested.  Items that are distracting to others and disruptive to the learning process are considered nuisance items and should not be brought to school.  No weapons or look alike weapons are allowed on school property. Toy guns, toy knives, whistles, chewing gum, and fad toy items are examples of distracting materials.  Bringing some of these items will result in severe disciplinary actions.  Due to the possibility of loss or damage, cell phones, iPads, large amounts of money and other items of significant value should not be brought to school.  The Tupelo Public School District cannot be held responsible for the loss of such items.

Lost and Found

Articles found in and around the school should be turned in to the office. Owners may claim their property by identifying it.  Be sure to label your child’s coats, jackets, sweaters, and backpacks. Unclaimed clothing will be donated to a local charity at the end of each month.  Parents are always welcome to come by and check the items.
 

Placement Policy

Children are carefully placed in classrooms with consideration of confidential information from parents and teachers. Requests for specific teachers are not accepted.
 

STUDENT DELIVERIES:  
Students may not receive deliveries (flowers, balloons, candy, etc.) to the school for any occasion.
 

IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER:  
In the event of inclement weather and school closings, parents will receive an alert now phone call (automated phone message) with details regarding the closing.  The district webpage, www.tupeloschools.com as well as local television and radio stations are reliable resources as well. It will be our practice to always put the safety of students and staff first in dismissing school for reasons caused by inclement weather. We carefully check the conditions for transportation and make the decision to dismiss school after we have considered all the information available. Parental discretion is encouraged in cases regarding safety in unusual, specific situations. The final decision for a child to attend school or not during inclement weather rests with the parent.

There are some times when major thoroughfares are kept open, and we have school when some roads are still frozen. It is our plan to keep bus travel on open roads, where no dangers exist in order to complete a school day. We would not want to miss an entire day because of frozen conditions on just a few minor streets.

If inclement weather should occur during the day, and it becomes necessary to close school early, an announcement will be made by the Superintendent. All local news media will be notified, and radio and TV stations will announce the decision for early dismissal. Parents will be notified with a text message or a phone call so please keep phone numbers current at all times in our database. Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of all students.

Students will not be allowed to leave the school campus if a tornado warning is in effect. Carver has a storm shelter on campus. Parents are welcomed to go go inside the building to stay, but students may not leave until the warning is lifted.
 

A list of local media that will be notified is listed below:

o   Television:  WTVA, broadcast channel 9 and cable channel 6 AND WCBI, broadcast channel 4 and cable channel 13

o   Radio – WTUP/WESE, WELO/WZLQ, WWKZ, WYSE, WPMX/WWZD, WFTA/WFTO, WWMS, WAFR

o   Northeast MS Daily Journal

Specials

➢    Art

Our students participate in art class where they gain a better understanding of principles of visual art including color, design and art history.  In art, the children learn a variety of techniques such as water coloring, shading, dimensions, and others. The artwork of our students can be found at the Tupelo High School Performing Arts Center, in our school building, and in the spring at the Gum Tree Museum of Art.

➢    Music

      In music class, students explore different styles and genres of music through singing, listening, playing instruments, and movement. Musical skills are developed using the Orff approach as well as traditional methods.

➢    Physical Education /Health

Physical education classes provide a time for exercising and participating in cooperative games, as well as competitive games. Students learn the importance of good sportsmanship and physical exercise. Students will move to music.  Our school offers classes that provide cognitive content and learning experiences in a variety of activity areas such as basic movement skills, physical fitness, rhythms and dance, and games. Through many planned physical activities, each student should reach his/her optimum physical, mental, emotional, and social development.   Students are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothes – dresses are not a good clothing choice on P.E. day. Please let us know if your child ever has any special needs (injuries, sickness, etc.).

➢    Computer Lab

All students will attend multiple computer labs at scheduled times during the specials rotation. Carver is committed to preparing its students for a world of technology by providing instruction in computer ethics, care, and use.  Students become familiar with the different parts of the computer and are taught how to navigate the keyboard properly through working on programs designed to support reading and math instruction in the classroom.  Classroom teachers utilize the computer lab for additional instruction.  Academics taught in the students’ homeroom classes are incorporated into the computer lab through instructional software.  Each individual classroom is also equipped with its own computer station.

➢    Media Center

Our media center gives students the opportunity to enter the magical and exciting world of reading. The Carver Media Center is home to hundreds of fiction and non-fiction works.  There is also a vast selection of books that are part of our collection program, which are conveniently organized so that the students have an easy time selecting books at their reading level.Every homeroom has a designated time to visit the media center; however, all children have access to the media center every day.  During media class, the children learn how to utilize the media center more efficiently and check out books. All books are due in a week but may be returned early or renewed if extra time is needed.

Field Trip Guidelines
 

❖     Field trips are designed to enhance and enrich learning.

❖     Field trips may be used to develop background knowledge at the beginning of a unit of study or to culminate a unit of study.

❖     Building community within the class and/or grade is also a goal of field trips. Riding the bus and following the trip itinerary contribute significantly to the accomplishment of this goal.

❖     Chaperones are critical partners in the success of a field trip and assume significant supervisory responsibilities under the direction of the lead teacher.

❖     Chaperones need to be approved by central office through a background check conducted for a fee.  

❖     Participation in the field trip is limited to students, school personnel, and approved chaperones.

❖     Chaperones will be given specific directions for performing field trip duties.

❖     Students should ride to and from the destination in the transportation provided by the Tupelo Public School District.

❖     Only school personnel and students may ride in buses owned by Tupelo Public School District.

❖     Chaperones may ride in chartered buses as long as there is available space.

❖     Students should not ride in private cars unless it is with a parent and prior approval is given. A permission form completed and approved at least one week prior to the trip is required. Permission will be granted if the student must leave the field trip to attend a sporting event, academic competition, or organizational event and the form has been completed.

It should be a matter of personal pride for a student of the TPSD to maintain high standards of neatness and appropriateness of dress and appearance.  Therefore, the following guidelines must be strictly enforced:

❖     Shorts must be adequate in length and size. 

❖     Muscle shirts, tube tops, tank tops, and fishnet tops are not acceptable.

❖     The midriff shall not be exposed while walking, standing, and/or sitting.

❖     Clothing, accessories, or manner of grooming which, by nature of its color, arrangement, trademark symbol, or any other attribute that indicates or implies membership or affiliation with cults or cult activity, gangs or gang activity or association is strictly prohibited.

❖     Shoes designed to be laced must be laced.

❖     Loose and/or sagging pants, slacks, and shorts falling below the waist are unacceptable.

❖     We encourage wearing tennis shoes for physical education classes.

Parents will be called to bring a change of clothing to the school if a student is not dressed appropriately.

 

Board Policy Code JCDB Dress Code for Students

 

Grades K-6

1. Students are permitted to wear shorts in warm weather provided the shorts are of adequate size and length. The minimum length for shorts is index finger length with arms extended when dropped from the side. Cut-off blue jean shorts are inappropriate as well as shorts withe holes, tears, and/or shreds. Holes, tears, and /or shreds that expose undergarments and inappropriate areas (holes above the knee) are prohibited.

2. The length of dresses and skirts will not exceed four inches above the top of the knee and will also be appropriate for bending, stooping, sitting and working overhead while at school.

3. Transparent clothing without proper underclothing is inappropriate. Transparent wind suits are inappropriate. Wind suits may be worn provided they are not transparent.

4. Muscle shirts, tube tops, tank tops, razor back tops, spaghetti strap tops and fishnet tops are prohibited.

5. No clothing shall be so low in the front as to expose any part of the breast or shall be so low in the back to explode the shoulder blades.

6. The midriff shall not be exposed while walking, standing, and/or sitting.

7. An over shirt is permitted as long as a proper undergarment is worn.

8. Any article of clothing which contains or depicts the following is prohibited: substances illegal by law for minors - alcohol,drugs, tobacco; profane, suggestive, and/or violent language; derogatory symbols. or remarks directed to any ethnic group.

9. Any jewelry and/or items of ornamentation which depicts weapons of violence or substances illegal to minors are prohibited.

10. Hair shall be free from obnoxious odors, and shall be clean and neat in appearance. Picks, combs, rollers, and bonnets/sleet caps
     shall not be worn in, not on the hair.

11. Basketball jerseys shall not be worn without appropriate underclothing. Hoods should not be worn in the building.

12. Shoe/sandals shall be worn. Shoes designed to be laced shall be laced. Shoes with cleats and house shoes are inappropriate.

13. Loose and/or sagging pants,slacks, and shorts falling below the waist without a belt are prohibited.

14. Leggings/yoga pants/running pants and similar tight fitting pants are only permitted when worn with a top tha extends down from
      the shoulders to mid-thigh of the leg (front and back).

15. Sunglasses shall be removed from the head when entering a building.

16. Hats and caps, unless a part of a special event, shall not be worn in the building. The penalty for wearing a hat or cap is
      confiscation. The hat or cap will be returned to the parent upon the completion of the school year.

17. Piercing of exposed body parts that cause a distraction or cause a safety concern are prohibited. This includes body piercings
      other than ear piercing.

18. Doo-rags, bandannas, and wash clothes are prohibited.

19. All fasteners and buckles designed for use with an article of clothing shall be used appropriately at all times.

20. Restrictions on a student's manner of dress or grooming will be determined :
       (a)  where there is clear and present danger to the student's health and safety; or
       (b)  when the attire causes in interference with work, a disruption to the educational
             environment, or creates classroom or school disorder as a result of such manner
             of dress or grooming.

21. Trench coats, or other items of clothing which could be utilized to conceal dangerous or prohibited items are not allowed.

22. Hoods should not be worn in the building.

Guidance Services

Carver has one certified guidance counselor. Our counselor is part of the preventative program of emotional health of our students.  Each child at Carver School has access to our school counselor. Parents who wish to arrange a conference with the counselor are asked to call the school office at (662)841-8870. Additional student services are provided by our social and emotional therapist and our Lifecore support therapist who works at Carver. A number of guidance services for students and their families are coordinated with community organizations.   

    
SPECIAL NEEDS:  
Special Education services are available at Carver for students with special learning needs.  Testing and evaluation are part of the resources provided by specialists trained in the areas of speech and language, learning disabilities, challenge and teaching the physically handicapped.
 
CHALLENGE PROGRAM:  
The Challenge Program is provided for intellectually gifted children in grades two through six in the Tupelo Public School District. Students are screened in first grade through teacher observations, group intelligence tests, and achievement tests. In some circumstances, students are screened in higher grades. Students who are referred for testing take an individual intelligence test. The Mississippi Department of Education regulations require that all children score at or above the 91st percentile to be eligible for the Challenge Program. Students who are in the program meet for five hours each week with the Challenge teacher. 
 

P.T.O. - PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION:  
Active parental involvement in every aspect of school life is encouraged at Pierce Street. The Pierce
Street PTO is a very important support group that seeks to include all parents. If you would like to
become more involved with the Pierce Street PTO, please call us at 841-8940.  

TITLE I:  
Title I is the largest federal aid program for elementary, middle, and high schools. Through Title I, the Federal government gives money to school districts around the country based on the number of at-risk students in each district. The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair and significant opportunity to obtain a highquality education. Title I schools have a choice as to how they set up their Title I program as long as the program helps its students meet state academic standards. Title I funds at Pierce Street are used to:  

1.    Hire additional instructional staff,
2.    Purchase equipment and learning materials, and
3.    Support parent involvement activities.  Parents-Right-To-Know

The qualifications of teachers and paraprofessionals employed in schools funded by Title I will be provided upon parent request. Title I School wide Programs are available at the Early Childhood Education Center and the eight K-5 elementary schools. For further information, please contact the principal of the school where your child attends or the Director of Federal Programs.  In addition, a parent may request information on the level of achievement of the parent’s child on each state academic assessment, and/or a timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.

 FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS & PRIVACY ACT:  
The Tupelo Public School District routinely makes public certain directory information regarding students. This directory information includes the student name, address, telephone number, picture, height and weight of athletes, extracurricular activities, awards, honor rolls, electronic listings, Internet web pages, and other information which is typically found in school yearbooks, programs, bulletins, and student newspapers. In addition, the District discloses names, addresses, and telephone numbers to military recruiters upon request. Parents and eligible students shall have from July 15 until September 1 to review this notice and request in writing to the school principal that all or any part of the directory information not be disclosed without prior written consent.
 
ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION:   

In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations established by
the EPA, all school districts are required to provide an annual notification to all parents, teachers, and
employees regarding our asbestos management program. This annual notification informs all persons of
their option to review the Asbestos Management Plan for our school district.
To provide continuing management of the asbestos in our schools, all Asbestos-Containing Materials
(ACM) are inspected every six months by an accredited asbestos inspector. Any changes to these
materials are recorded in a surveillance report as part of the management plan.
Additionally, an accredited Asbestos Management Planner conducts a comprehensive inspection of all
ACM’s every 3 years. This 3-year re-inspection has been performed as required and a copy has been
filed with the Mississippi Department of Education.
A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is located in the principal’s office at each school. In addition,
copies of all Asbestos Management Plans for the district are maintained in the Superintendent’s office
located at 72 South Green Street. If you are interested in reviewing this information, please contact the
Central Office at 662-841-8853 to schedule an appointment.