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.
Arrival/Departure Times & Procedures
ARRIVAL:
Teachers at Pierce Street will be on duty at the front of the building and at the bus entrance on the east side
(Lincoln Drive) at 7:30 a.m. each morning. Students may enter the building at this time. Students who walk, ride bikes, and are brought by automobiles will enter the front of the building (Pierce Street) by the office. Students who walk are encouraged to walk directly to school in the morning and to go directly home in the afternoon.
The tardy bell will ring at 8:00 a.m. Any student who arrives in the building after 8:00 a.m. is considered tardy and will need to be escorted into the building and signed-in by a parent. Students will then receive a tardy slip from the office before proceeding to their classroom.
Instructional time is valuable and begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Please be considerate of the time.
DISMISSAL:
Dismissal will begin each afternoon at 2:50 p.m. Walkers and students being picked up by carpool will exit the front of the building, while bus students and daycare students will be dismissed at the east side of the building on Lincoln Drive (closest to the Middle School) as their bus or daycare arrives.
Car riders will exit from the front of the building along Pierce Street. The circle drive will be used for car rider dismissal ONLY and will flow one way. We will allow 10 cars in the circle drive at a time. The desire is that all 10 cars load, and pull away simultaneously, so the next 10 vehicles may enter the drive, making dismissal more efficient and timelier. Please do not enter the side parking lot to pick up your children. This causes a safety hazard for our students.
STUDENT CHECK-IN:
The front doors of the school will be shut and locked at 8:00 a.m. Any student arriving after 8:00 a.m. will need their parent to accompany them into the building to sign their child into school. Students are not allowed to sign themselves into school. This same procedure will be used for students who check into school late throughout the school day.
STUDENT CHECKOUT:
For safety reasons, we will not dismiss your child via telephone requests. Any change in how your child normally goes home will need to be made in writing. Without written notification your child will be dismissed to their usual afternoon destination. Additionally, students may not check out after 2:45 as this disrupts the learning environment. *All checkouts must occur before 2:45 p.m. each afternoon.
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.
CHORUS:
Pierce Street will offer a volunteer chorus. The chorus will meet during or before school once per week. Chorus is for the student who desires a more advanced musical experience than is offered in the regular class.
PERFORMANCES:
Each grade level will participate in a performance at some time throughout the school year. On the day of the event, a performance will be held that morning at 9:00 a.m. for the school, with an encore performance at 1:00 p.m.
D.A.R.E. - DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION:
D.A.R.E., an acronym that stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a 17-week course for fifth grade students taught by a uniformed police officer. The nationally recognized program is a joint effort by the Tupelo Public School District and the Tupelo Police.
LOST & FOUND:
There is a designated area on the stage at Pierce Street for lost and found items. Students are encouraged to turn in items, as well as look for their lost items in this area. Any valuable item turned in will be kept in the office for safe keeping.
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.
STUDENT DELIVERIES:
Students may not receive deliveries (flowers, balloons, candy, etc.) to the school for any occasion.
PERSONAL ITEMS AT SCHOOL:
Students are asked to refrain from bringing personal items to school, especially those considered valuable as this helps to minimize distractions in the classroom as well as prevent loss or damage to personal items.
MEDIA CENTER:
Pierce Street’s Media Center operates on an open or flexible schedule in order to provide more time for independent study and to ensure that media skills are successfully integrated into the curriculum. Modern technology such as computerized card catalog, IPads, Nooks, and a computer lab with a Promethean board, enhances the media services offered to our Pierce Street students.
PLACEMENT REQUESTS:
Requests for student placement in classrooms are not honored at Pierce Street. We are, however, open to any information you wish to provide to us regarding your child (behavioral issues, specific learning needs, personality characteristics, etc.) so that we may make a best decision in placing your child with their assigned teacher.
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.
AED Prodecures:
The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine is located in the main office. AED drills will be conducted throughout the school term. Upon having an emergency, qualified staff will be prepared to respond effectively.
TITLE 1: PARENTS RIGHT TO KNOW:
Upon parent request, the qualifications of teachers and assistants employed in schools or programs funded by Title 1 will be provided. Title I School wide programs are available at Martin Luther King and all K-5 schools within the Tupelo Public School District. For further information, please contact the Director of Federal Programs at (662-841-8850) or your child’s principal.
Tupelo Public Schools strives to ensure that students who meet the criteria for McKinney-Vento Homeless Act of 2002 are placed upon arrival. To ensure their placement, slots are left open should a student arrive at any time during the school year.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL & HOME
Clear communication is essential in an effective school-home relationship. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact school personnel. A newsletter will be posted each week informing parents of the happenings in the child’s classroom.
CONCERNS:
Direct your communication to one person in the position closest to the situation. If there is an issue involving the teacher, contact the teacher first. If there is a concern in which you feel the counselor could be of assistance, please call the office for the counselor. Contact the principal in general situations involving more than one individual or classroom or if satisfaction is not gained after talking with the teacher.
PARENT CONFERENCES:
Parents are strongly encouraged to communicate as much as possible with their child's teacher. A parent conference can be scheduled by contacting the classroom teacher or the school guidance counselor. The most appropriate times to schedule a parent-teacher conference are before school, after school, and/or during a teacher's planning period. Parents who wish to arrange a conference should call the school counselor during the day at 841-8940.
CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS:
Parents are encouraged to visit classes throughout the school year. Visits should not exceed a thirty minute period of time. Teachers like to have the day started before visitors arrive, but most feel that the morning provides the best opportunity for uninterrupted instruction. Only the parent or guardian of a student may visit the classroom for observations. Class visits should be scheduled in advance by school administrators or counselors. Parents are encouraged not to conference with the teacher during the thirty-minute visit. If a follow-up conference is needed, please schedule the conference with the counselor.
All visitors must sign in though the main office.
HOURS OF OPERATION:
The hours of operation of Pierce Street Elementary School are 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Students are allowed to enter the building at 7:30am and dismissal begins at 2:50 p.m. and ends at approximately 3:15.
• The Tupelo Public School District is not responsible for your child before or after these hours. If you are not able to pick up your
child upon dismissal from school, bus transportation should be considered. Bus transportation is available to every student in the
district who lives outside of the walking zone of the specific school.
• The Mississippi Department of Human Resources has requested that we report any parent or guardian who has repeatedly failed to
pick up his/her child upon dismissal, as this conduct constitutes child neglect. In the past, children left at school after all faculty
and staff members have left campus have been transported to Juvenile Hall by local law enforcement officials. Other available
arrangements may be made, at the discretion of the District.
• Please plan to have your child picked up at the time of dismissal. If you need to arrange bus transportation, please call the
department of transportation at 662-841-8908.
• All transportation changes must be in writing.
COUNSELING:
The guidance program at Pierce Street Elementary is committed to the individual growth and development of each student and to working with both students and parents to ensure the greatest benefit from school experiences. Teachers, administration, parents, or students themselves may refer a student in need to the counselor at any time.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
Special Education services are available at Pierce Street Elementary 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 high quality 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.
