Please make sure to follow all traffic signs and directions at all times. 

Arrival to School:

All students must be wearing their ID badge above the chest and be in dress code to be permitted into the building. To ensure the safety of students, children are not to arrive to school before 7:55 a.m. There is no adult supervision until that time. All students should enter through the school cafeteria, the main entrance, or from the back student parking lot through the gym foyer. Students may be in 1 of the 3 following areas: cafeteria, library or a classroom.
*Orchestra and Band students will be permitted to enter through the outside access doors, but will not be allowed into the building unless they have an ID or are in dress code. We know it can be cumbersome to carry an instrument through the building to store in these areas.

Doors open for students at 8:00am. Parents should not leave students at school before 7:55am. Staff will be on duty starting at 8:00am, therefore students will not be supervised prior to that time. Should a student arrive excessively early, a phone call will be made to the parent to remind them of the school’s policy and our concern for the student’s safety.

Car/Van Riders: Students should be dropped at the front of the campus, on the east side of the campus. Parents should follow traffic signs and directions of staff on duty, pulling all the way forward in the drop off line. Parents should not allow students to exit the vehicle before they have pulled forward, or run between cars in the parking lot.

Student Walkers: Students should obey all traffic laws and use caution when using crosswalks or in parking lots, and students should not run through traffic lanes when cars are present. Once on campus, students should not leave campus for any reason. Bike riders should walk their bikes once they have entered the school grounds, and may lock their bikes up in the bike area near the theatre.

 

Dismissal:

Immediately after students are dismissed from school, they are to leave the school grounds unless they attend any of the school sponsored after-school programs. Children cannot loiter inside the building after being dismissed. Teachers will be on duty until 4:00 p.m., and students should be picked up or have left the school grounds by this time. Parents are responsible for making sure students know where they will be picked up and by whom. Parents wishing to pick their child up before school dismissal must go to the main office to sign students out. Students wishing to attend after school tutorials must have a valid pass and present to a staff member when re-entering the building at the front.

Car/Van Riders: Parents or van transportation picking up children from campus, must pick them up from the lane closest to the school.
Parents and van drivers may not impede or park in the fire lane at the front of the building.
These guidelines are determined for the safety of all students. Parents wishing to pick their child up before school dismissal must go to the main office to sign students out. (See section below about picking up students early.)

Student Walkers: Students walking home from school must walk immediately home after leaving school property. Loitering inside the school after 3:45 p.m. is not permitted. For the safety of all children, students will not be allowed to wait outside of the school building for a ride after 3:45 p.m. due to the lack of adult supervision. Should a student remain on campus excessively late (after 4:30 p.m.), a phone call will be made to the parent to remind them of the school’s policy and our concern for the student’s safety.

After School Activities: Parents should also ensure that students know which activities, practices, clubs, etc. their students are attending after school. Students are responsible to go immediately to their after school activity at the end of the school day. They will have ten minutes to get from the last period of the school day to the location of the activity.

Picking Up Students Early: Parents must go to the front office/attendance office and sign their child out of school with the school secretary. If there is an emergency or special circumstance, please call 972-968-5200 ahead of time to make arrangements. Students will not be released to anyone not listed in the student’s file as a person authorized to pick up the child. Only after the parent or other authorized person signs the child out will the child be released to the parent or other authorized person.

Designation of Parent/Guardian Pick Up: As part of the enrollment process, the student’s parent/guardian must designate the persons who are authorized to pick up the student from school. Only those persons will be allowed to pick up the student. If it is necessary for someone other than the designated person to pick up the child, the parent must notify the school in writing and specifically identify the person who will be picking up their child. Authorization for this person to pick up the student must be given to the school secretary either in person, by email or fax. School personnel will require proper identification of the person before releasing the child.

Family Disputes or Custody Issues: The school will not be involved in decisions relating to custody or family disputes with respect to picking up a child from school. The school will assume both parents have equal right to access to their child, including the right to pick up the child from school, unless the school has been provided with a certified court order which specifically limits the access of the parent to his or her child at the school. A divorce decree setting out custody or visitation schedules is not sufficient to prohibit access of a parent unless the decree specifically so provides. Parents involved in divorce or custody proceedings should make every effort to manage these issues without disruption to the student or school environment. Parents who fail to comply with this request may be removed from the school campus by the police.

Cell Phones

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District’s (“C-FB ISD” or “District”) Acceptable Use for Technology Resources Policy is to prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful or improper activities by users online, prevent unauthorized disclosure or access to sensitive or confidential information, ensure appropriate use of technology resources, and to comply with the Child’s Internet Protection Act. As used in this policy, “user” includes anyone using personal electronic devices (as permitted by District policy and handbooks) and the District’s technology resources, including computers, Internet, e-mail, chat rooms, wireless network, and other forms of direct electronic communications or equipment provided by the District.

On page 47 of the Student Code of Conduct and Parent/Student Handbook under Electronic Devices and Technology Resources, Possession and Use of Personal Telecommunications Devices, Including Mobile Telephones, it states; “for safety purposes, the district permits students to possess personal mobile telephones; however, these devices must remain turned off during the instructional day, including during all testing, unless they are being used for approved instructional purposes. A student uses a telecommunications device without authorization during the school day, the device will be confiscated. The student/parent may pick up the confiscated telecommunications device from Student Services for a fee of $15.”

Cell phones and other electronic devices are not to be used in the building or on the school grounds during the school day, with the exception of the school cafeteria and passing periods. Students may use their phones in the cafeteria before school and during lunch, as well as in the hallway during passing periods with one earbud in only. The school day is from 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Use, display, or evidence of possession of a paging or cellular device in the school building between the hours of 8:30am and 3:45pm will result in confiscation of the device. These items may be retrieved from the attendance clerk for a $15 fee. (Cash Only)

IMPORTANT: You will be unable to retrieve your telecommunications device after 4:00 p.m. and it can be retrieved the following morning.

Teachers should exercise good judgment in using personal cell phones at school. We model the behavior we expect from our students.

• Do not use your personal cell phone calls during class, including stepping into the hallway to take a personal call.

This policy is in accordance with Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District’s Acceptable Use for Technology Resources agreement, Newman Smith High School, page

Note from the Principal: Through social-emotional learning, we understand the need adolescents have to be supported in executive functions, or, decision making skills. Personal technology can be a significant distraction even for mature adults. Since cell phones are allowed only during lunch/passing periods and are considered a privilege, we may arrive at the decision to suspend the lunch/passing period privilege option. Reasons for doing so are related to below examples, though this is not an exhaustive list:

• Excessive tardies or absences
• Disruptive classroom conduct or impeding the learning of others
• Removal from class by a teacher or substitute
• Frequent use of public profanity at school
• Failure to comply with school expectations and rules

We understand that digital communication is frequent between parents and children, but our front office staff is well versed in handling emergency calls that you may need to make to your child during the school day. If your child has their cafeteria access privilege suspended, the phone can simply be checked into my office for safe and secure keeping from the time he/she arrives at school in the morning until the afternoon dismissal bell.

It’s my sincere hope and goal that your child could earn back his/her cafeteria access privilege if that circumstance arose and greatly improve his/her academic progress and/or conduct patterns. Please contact me if you have questions or concerns. I want to partner with you for the utmost benefit of your child.

District Issued Technology

Students at Newman Smith are issued a Chromebook as part of the district 1:1 initiative. Students and parents will receive and must return a signed Student/Parent 1:1 Use Agreement before checking out their district issued Chromebook.

It is the student’s responsibility to care appropriately for their device as well as report any issues through the student SOS system. It is imperative that students charge their Chromebook at home each night as there are limited places to charge their device at school. We value digital learning at Smith, therefore, students are expected to be in class with their charged Chromebook every day, every class period.

Because we are providing a district issued device to each student, we cannot support students bringing their own device. District issued devices are configured to connect correctly to our network with the appropriate filters. Additionally, student Google accounts are monitored for inappropriate material.

Communication with parents is very important to the successful school experience. Newman Smith may use a variety of methods of communication, such as those listed below. Do not hesitate to reach out to the teacher or campus administrators by phone or email if you have any questions or concerns about your child or communication with or from the School. The following are examples of communications you may expect from the School.

Trojan Tuesday Newsday: The newsletter will be sent home school-wide via parent square to advise parents about upcoming events and send important documents (i.e. parent forms, calendar of events, lunch menu, fundraisers, progress reports, etc.). Students will still receive flyers and progress reports on Tuesday.

Written Communication: Communication regarding grades, behavior, tutorials, student’s level of success in following the classroom management plan, etc. will be sent via email to the email address on file in Parent Self Serve, sent home with the student, or mailed home to the address on file.

Phone Calls: Parents may be contacted by teachers, administrators and automated phone calls to discuss their child’s grades, attendance, behavior or to share upcoming campus events. If there is a language barrier, an interpreter will be contacted to provide the information to the parent.

School Website: The School website provides school news, events, alerts, and general communications.

Parent Self-Serve: Parents can access student grades and attendance information, check discipline and contact their child’s teachers through the Parent Self Serve website. Parents are able to set up a Parent Self Serve account and sign up for daily, weekly, or monthly emails with grades and attendance information.

Parent Self-Serve
Student Self-Serve

Communication in a Crisis in CFBISD

CFBISD uses Parent Square to communicate with parents in a crisis

During a crisis, CFBISD will communicate with parents and families through Parent Square. The District uses our electronic notification system (Parent Square) that sends a text, phone message, and email to staff and parents to relay information during an emergency, depending on the situation. Parent Square – You can download the free mobile app for Android or iOS and you can also use it from a computer at www.parentsquare.com. Our goal is for every family to join ParentSquare.

Other Communication Methods in CFBISD

CFBISD Mobile App – Our CFBISD Mobile app continues to be an important tool for you to stay connected with district events, activities, your child’s grades, paying for your lunch and more. To download the CFBISD app, visit www.cfbapp.com. Campuses and the school district use social media to inform parents of events and accolades. Each campus social media is featured on their webpage at www.cfbisd.edu.

You can follow the district at:

Facebook

Twitter

Identification Badges

• Picture identification badges will be issued to students as a part of the school’s safety plan.
• All students will receive their first ID badge and clip free of charge.
• Replacement IDs are $3.00.
•  A student must be wearing their ID badge above the chest to enter the school building at any time.
  • If a student arrives to school without an ID and they are unable to retrieve it before 8:15, the students will report to the library to purchase a replacement ID. If they do not have money, their account will be charged. The student will be allowed 2 replacement IDs without consequence. On the third occurrence, a student will receive an automatic strike 3 and charged for an additional ID.
• At the threshold of each classroom at the beginning of class, a student must be wearing their ID badge to be admitted into class.
• Students must wear their school-issued ID badge above the chest at all times while at school.
• Students may not cover or deface the student name & picture.
• Students need to have their ID to:
  • enter the building
  • enter any classroom
  • check out books from library
  • leave campus for lunch (seniors only)
  • vote in elections
  • request transcripts
  • attend absence make-up
  • purchase tickets from the Main Office for Sporting Events
  • purchase tickets for Fine Arts Events
  • check out textbooks and calculators

Grading Procedures

The primary purpose of awarding grades is to communicate student achievement in relation to the state standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), and the district curriculum. The Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD is committed to creating an environment where quality instruction, assessment, and evaluation occur to improve student achievement. The academic grade represents this achievement. Also, effort and conduct are important to achievement; therefore, effort grades and conduct grades are included in the district’s reporting system.

Academic Grades
Formative grades represent 25% of the nine weeks grade.
Summative grades represent 75% of the nine weeks grade.

Formative Assessment
Multiple formative and summative assessment tools are used to provide feedback and accurately assess students’ mastery of the TEKS and district curriculum. Formative assessment directs the teacher’s instructional decisions regarding adjustments or re-teaching needed to ensure student success on the curriculum/learning goal(s). It also communicates to the student any learning adjustment needed prior to the summative assessment. Formative assessment is assessment FOR learning.

Formative assessment provides ongoing feedback and will be recorded a minimum of two times per summative assessment. The formative assessments recorded must align to the standards of the summative they precede and are to provide guidance to the student and teacher on progress towards learning goals. Formative grades should reflect progress on standards only, not compliance, i.e. returning a progress report for a grade or bringing a box of tissues at the beginning of the school year.

Formative assessment is practice that takes place both formally and informally. Formal assessment occurs when regular instruction is stopped to assess student understanding. Informal assessment happens during the course of instruction.

Examples of informal formative assessments include, but are not limited to the following:

• Class discussions
• Daily practice
• Teacher observation
• Questioning
• Checking for understanding

Examples of formal formative assessments include, but are not limited to the following:

• Classroom assignments/assessments
• District assessments
• Performance assessments
• Quizzes
• Homework

All homework should be completed, reviewed in a timely manner, and used as a method to provide students with specific feedback on their performance of the assigned tasks. The research on homework indicates that providing feedback is critical, but assigning a grade to every homework assignment is not necessary. Homework should result in a higher performance level on summative assessments. Homework that the teacher has determined should be part of the report card grade will contribute 10% of the formative assessment grade.

Student effort is critical to student success. Therefore, formative assessment work not submitted on time will be recorded as an Incomplete (INC) and will receive a penalty of one letter grade (-10 points) when submitted. If work is not submitted within the summative reassessment window, the INC will be changed to a zero.

Summative Assessment

Summative assessments are designed to provide information about a student’s mastery of the curriculum/learning goal(s). Summative assessment occurs after providing frequent feedback to students through formative assessments. Summative assessment is assessment OF learning that occurs at the end of a sequence of instruction.

A minimum of three summative assessments is required each nine weeks. The district supports a balanced assessment approach and recommends using multiple assessment formats that require students to write, to create, and to perform to document learning. Extenuating circumstances* for individual students may alter the time frame in which a summative is administered. Grades should be based on mastery of the curriculum. In secondary, semester exams shall be comprehensive in nature and measure the mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The semester exam will represent 20% of a student’s final semester grade.

Examples of summative assessments include, but are not limited to the following:

• Tests
• Projects
• Presentations
• Portfolios
• Performance Assessments
• Papers
• Reports
• District assessments

Summative assessments not submitted by the due date will be recorded as Incomplete (INC) and will receive a penalty of one letter grade (-10 points) when submitted. If the work is not submitted within five school days of the due date, the incomplete will be changed to a zero.

The teacher will examine the preponderance of assessment evidence over the course of the grading period and when appropriate, will use the most recent achievement data when determining the final grade.

Tutorials should be used to assist students with concepts/knowledge/skills with which they are struggling. The teacher will assign tutorials based on evidence from formative or summative assessments. If tutorials are assigned, then attendance is mandatory.

*Extenuating circumstances will be determined by the teacher and the principal or designee.

Reassessment Procedures for Summative Assessments

1. Reassessment provides students the opportunity to demonstrate they have increased their knowledge, skills, and/or concepts from the first assessment. Therefore, students who have already demonstrated advanced learning or mastery will not be reassessed. Advanced level or mastery is defined as a student receiving an A or a high B on an assessment.
2. Students who fail a summative assessment shall be reassessed. Students who receive a 70 – 84 shall have the opportunity to be reassessed.
3.  On a summative reassessment, the teacher shall record the higher of the two grades up to an 85.
4. Reassessment occurs under the following conditions:

• • The student completes formative assessments/assignments related to the summative (as determined by the teacher) prior to the reassessment opportunity.
  • The student engages in additional learning opportunities/assignments.
  • The teacher selects the time for reassessment, which may include before/after school.
  • Time frame:
    • Normally within fifteen school days of the student receiving the grade on the original assessment unless extenuating circumstances* exist
    • No later than seven calendar days into the next grading period if the summative was given the last week of the grading period.

5. Students who meet the aforementioned reassessment criteria may be reassessed one time. Any reassessment beyond the stated procedures would be determined by the teacher and campus administrator.
6. The same assessment shall not be given to determine mastery. However, the assessment format is subject to the teacher’s discretion.
7. The semester exam is not subject for reassessment.

Per District Policy, academic dishonesty includes cheating or copying the work of another student, plagiarism and unauthorized communication between students during an examination. Evidence may come from written materials, observation, and/or information from students. The determination that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty shall be based on the judgment of the classroom teacher or other supervising professional employee and the principal. Students found to have engaged in academic dishonesty shall receive a zero on the assignment/assessment involved in the incident. The student shall be given the opportunity to reassess the assignment for a grade of no higher than an 85. The student is required to complete the formatives associated with that assignment. All assignments that the student is required to fix must correlate directly to the standards of the original assignment.

Per NSHS, academic dishonesty will be at minimum, an automatic strike 3.

An “Incomplete” or “INC” will be issued based on a student’s non-attendance in class and/or missing summative assessment(s) due to extenuating circumstances*. If a student enrolls in the last 15 days of the grading period without grades from the previous school, an “NG” for “No Grade” will be issued. Students entering C-FB with grades from a previous school will receive the grades awarded from the previous school/district.

*Extenuating circumstances will be determined by the teacher and the principal or designee.

Effort Grades

In addition to reporting a student’s academic mastery of standards, the report card shall also denote the student’s efforts toward achievement.

A quality work ethic is defined as:

• Timeliness – turns in work by stated due date; arrives in class on time;
• Persistence – strives to achieve personal best even when faced with challenges;
• Focused participation – remains on topic; demonstrates a commitment to class activities or discussions and group/team projects; and
• Preparedness – arrives at class having completed prerequisite work and bringing necessary supplies and resources.

Letter Grade	Definition
A	Student exemplifies every aspect of a quality work ethic on a daily basis. Commitment to excellence and to produce work which represents a personal best is always evident.
B	Student consistently exhibits the majority of quality work ethic attributes. The student generally produces work which represents a personal best.
C	The student is inconsistent in meeting the majority of quality work ethic attributes. While work is normally turned in on time, the student rarely goes beyond minimal expectations and seldom strives for personal best.
F	The student rarely meets the majority of quality work ethic attributes. The student needs frequent extensions to turn in work, and work very seldom meets personal best.

Conduct Grades

The following criteria will be followed when determining Conduct grades for each student. Assigning Conduct grades is mandatory within the district grading policy. Failure to assign Conduct grades for each student may result in a conference with an administrator as well as further action if necessary.

Teachers must make parent contact for a conduct grade that is below a B. In addition to reporting a student’s mastery of standards, the report card shall also denote the student’s conduct.

Conduct includes:

• Honor
• Integrity
• Loyalty
• Achievement
• Truth

Letter Grade	Definition
A	The student exemplifies all aspects of conduct attributes on a daily basis and serves as a positive role model for others. Occasional lapses are minor and always followed by the student’s acceptance of responsibility.
B	The student consistently exhibits the majority of the conduct attributes. Occasional lapses are minor and are generally followed by the student’s acceptance of responsibility.
C	The student is inconsistent in meeting the majority of the conduct attributes. Lapses result in a distraction to the learning environment and the student’s reluctance to accept personal responsibility.
F	The student rarely meets the majority of the conduct attributes. Frequent lapses result in a distraction to the learning environment and the student’s denial of responsibility for actions.

Grading Scales

9th Grade – 12th Grade
The grading scale for all other courses and grade levels is as follows.

• A (100-90) = Exceptional performance exceeding standard expectations
• B (89-80) = Successful performance of standard expectations
• C (79-70) = Inconsistent performance with progress towards standard expectations
• F (68*-0) = Unsatisfactory performance with little progress towards standard expectations

If students are functioning below grade level, the grade will reflect the progress/performance of their functioning level. However, it will be noted on the report card that the student is not performing on grade level.

For special education students who have a modified or alternative curriculum, evaluation of successful achievement will be based on the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and mastery expectations.

The awarding of grade points for high school credit courses is as follows:

100-90
4 grade points

89-80
3 grade points

79-70
2 grade points

68*-0
o grade points

*A grade of 69 shall not be recorded on the report card.

Semester Grades
1st/3rd grading quarter grade (40%) + 2nd/4th grading quarter grades (40%) + exam grade (20%)

Final Grade
1st semester (50%) + 2nd semester (50%)

Additional Grading Information:

Graduation Credit Requirements:
High School Entry Year: After 2014-2015
Number of Credits Needed: 26 credits (Foundation plus Endorsements)

Students are classified according to the number of credits they have earned.

Classification Credits:

Sophomore: 6 credits
Junior: 12 credits
Senior: 19 credits

Reclassification of grade levels is made at the beginning of each school year. However, students who have not been promoted to a higher grade due to lack of credits, may be eligible for reclassification at the end of the 1st semester if sufficient credits have been earned during the first semester to warrant a reclassification. Additionally, senior classification requires completion of English IV or enrollment in English IV.

Semester Exams

1. Semester exams should be used to certify mastery of objectives by students. All high school credit course semester exams shall be comprehensive in nature and must measure the mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. The semester exam counts 20% of a student’s final semester grade.
2. Senior students may be exempted from final exams during the spring semester only if they meet the following criteria.

• Better than ninety (90) percent attendance in all classes, all year. (If a student has had to attend after school make-up during the fall or spring semester, then he/she does not meet this criterion.)
• No more than two (2) or three (3) absences with at least a ninety (90) percent average in the class requesting an exemption from the final exam
• No more than (1) absence with at least an eighty-five (85) percent average in the class requesting an exemption from the final exam

Retrieval of Credit

A 2020 cohort student who does not receive a passing grade of 70 or does not receive credit may retrieve credit through various options such as summer school, college-approved credit by exam (CBE) (prior instruction), and Edgenuity (former PLATO) assigned periods. Students in grades 11 – 12 may also retrieve credit through correspondence courses. Students below below cohort 2020 must attend summer school or use the Edgenuity Lab on offered Thursday evenings or offered Saturdays.

Grade Points (Policies EIC, EID)

1. The valedictorian, salutatorian, and honor graduates of a senior class will be determined by the cumulative grade point average calculated through the grading period prior to the final grading period of their senior year. To be eligible for valedictory, salutatory honors or top ten student honors, the student shall have attended high school in the District continuously for two school years commencing with enrollment no later than the end of the first 15 school days of the first semester of said student’s junior year until graduation.
2. Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses receive 9 additional grade points for those courses. Students enrolled in Pre AP courses receive 6 additional grade points for those courses.

Summer School Grades

A student failing the regular semester and attending summer school for that respective semester shall receive a passing grade for that course if the curriculum is mastered

• Under normal conditions, students should use restrooms before school, during passing periods, and after school.
• Students experiencing a medical problem, which necessitates special arrangements, should consult with the teacher/nurse regarding the matter.

Rest Room School-Wide System

Each teacher will have COLOR coded passes according to the hallway. Teachers will receive a color-coded map, and the restrooms will have a color posted above it. The color tells you which bathroom your classroom has permission to use.

This will help you identify the closest restroom and that is the only one a student has permission to go to.

If a bathroom has issues, please let us know so a custodian may fix.

This policy allows a student to use the restroom 4 times, per class, per grading quarter before any consequence is levied.

• 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th restroom breaks are freebies
• The 5th restroom break equals a 20-minute instructional recapture session (IRS)
• The 6th restroom break equals a 40-minute instructional recapture session (IRS)
• The 7th restroom break—and all subsequent breaks—equals a strike 3
• First: a student asks the teacher for permission to use the restroom
• Second: the teacher grants permission and records today’s date on a form
• Third: student signs out on the restroom log, take the pass, and use the correct restroom
• Fourth: student returns to class, signs back in on the log, returns the pass, and gets back to work

Once a student reaches the 5th restroom break in a class (per 9 weeks), you will receive a 20 minute IRS—including a reminder form—to be served at the teacher’s discretion.

Failure to serve the IRS will result in an escalation of the consequences…so show up!

• When the student asks for a 5th restroom pass → take 20 minutes IRS. IRS stands for Instructional Recapture Session…and it’s how students make up for missed instructional time due to excessive restroom breaks.

When students are allowed to leave the classroom, they must have a restroom pass or a nurse pass. Students are not allowed in the hallway for other reasons. If you need a runner, call student services. If parents are checking out a student, the student will be sent a written student services pass to your room.

Promoting Safety, Security, and Success for all Students and Staff

Campus Discipline Management System

Discipline Policy

We will utilize the Clean Slate citizenship and discipline program at Newman Smith High School. The Clean Slate is a school-wide program that allows teachers to teach and students to learn. Students will have 2 in class Strikes; Strike 3 will be the removal from class. Automatic Strike 3's can be administered by a teacher or an administrator. An automatic Strike 3 can result in removal from campus.

Clean Slate Overview:

• Consistent behavioral and academic expectations throughout the school
• Non-judgmental
• Encourages student ownership of behavior and responsibility that contributes to a positive learning environment
• Student behavior choices result in consequences that are consistent, logical and predictable

Goals of Clean Slate:

• To help students develop a sense of reality regarding the consequences of their behavior
• To intrinsically reward and encourage consistent learning behavior
• To reduce recognition and reinforcement of poor or inappropriate behavior\
• To teach and provide opportunities for students to develop and practice decision-making skills regarding their behavior

If a child chooses Strike 3, a parent conference must take place before the student will be admitted back into class. Students will be placed in The Strike Zone until a parent reports to the school for the conference. Parents will be notified of their child’s choice regarding a Strike 3 by phone as well as a letter sent home with the child. If parent does not arrive during the school day, the student will not be allowed back on campus the following day unless accompanied by a parent. If the student does not report to school for 2 consecutive days, administrators will call home and begin the truancy process. A well-disciplined classroom is the most productive classroom. Students should be informed that good conduct is expected at school as well as in traveling to and from school.

THE RULE: NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH THE LEARNING, SAFETY, OR WELL-BEING OF ANOTHER.

 The philosophy of our discipline program, “The Clean Slate,” at Smith can be summarized as follows:

1.  No student will interfere with their own learning or the learning of others. 2. All students can behave and communicate appropriately. 3. Teachers have the right to teach. 4.  Students have the right to learn. 5. No student shall prevent a teacher from teaching or a student from learning.

All campus staff will follow The Clean Slate discipline system. The Clean Slate is a school-wide citizenship and discipline program that allows teachers to teach and students to learn.  Students will have 2 in-class strikes, and Strike 3 will be the removal from class. 

Description of Strikes:

*Students can deescalate have strikes removed one at a time by stopping the disruption and having a quick conversation when the teacher comes over to talk.*

• Strike 1 – Student receives a strike (hashmark) on their desk for disruption of the learning environment.  

• Strike 2 – Student receives a second hashmark on their desk and is informed that any further disruption will result in “Striking Out” and they will be sent to the office to call their parent.  

• Strike 3 – The student is asked to leave class and report to their appropriate alpha attendance.  The teacher will need to call the attendance office to inform the clerks that the student is on their way. Strike 3s must be recorded in the SIT Server by the end of the period bell. Once the proper SIT Server documentation is completed and the notification is received, the clerk will call home and the student will wait in the “Strike Zone until his/her parent arrives.  

• Student will remain in the Strike Zone until parent arrives to the school.  Student will not be allowed into classes until there has been a strike 3 conference with the parent.  

• If the parent does not arrive during the school day, after school, or before school the student will not be allowed back in class the following day and will be in the Strike Zone again. The student will be counted as ADM and a phone call home will be made by the Clean Slate Coordinator.  If the student does not report to school for 2 consecutive days, administrators will call home and begin the truancy process.  

For more information regarding documentation in the SIT Server, please see the Documentation of Strike 3s section

DETENTION PROCEDURES

With implementation of The Clean Slate, teachers will no longer assign individual detentions, unless it is an IRS (Instructional Recapture Session). You may still assign academic tutorials before or after school. Detention will be utilized as a consequence for tardies/or tiers within The Clean Slate program. Please refer to the tardy section for more information regarding tardies and detention.

Tiers of The Clean Slate

Tier 1 - conference with coordinator, parent, scholar, & teacher

Tier 2 - conference with coordinator, parent, scholar & teacher with 60 minute detention

Tier 3 - conference with coordinator, parent, scholar, & teacher with 2 hour detention

Tier 4 - Once the report has been received, the scholar will automatically have a phone conference with their admin and parents. The scholar is suspended for a certain duration of time. The Admin will set up a restorative circle with the coordinator, parent and teachers for the morning the scholar returns. It is mandatory for all teachers to attend. A restorative contract will be created at this time. After the circle, the scholar starts over.  

Once a scholar gets to Tier 4 (second time) - the scholar automatically has a phone conference with their admin, coordinator, and parent. The scholar is suspended for a certain duration of time. When the parent comes to pick up the scholar, a conference will be held with the coordinator and teacher.  The scholar’s Tiers starts over. 

If a scholar gets to Tier 4 a third time - the scholar will be recommended for DAEP. 

Restorative Circles
These circles will be held when a student returns to campus from a suspension or DAEP placement with the student’s parent/guardian, teachers, and the Clean Slate Coordinator.

Discipline Management Center(DMC)
This no longer exists in its prior form at Newman Smith High School.

Fighting

The campus administrative policy for fighting is automatic DAEP and a 10 hour community service commitment as an administration fee. A student can be assigned to JJAEP for Title 5 violations involving weapons or serious bodily injury.

Administration of Medications:

Parental Responsibility:

1. All medication must be in its original container and be properly labeled. The pharmacy label must state the student’s name, medication, dosage, doctor’s name, and date prescription was filled. The prescription is to be current within the last 12 calendar months. Non-prescription drugs should have the student’s name affixed to the original bottle.
2. After five (5) consecutive school days, students on non-prescription drugs will be required to submit a physician’s authorization for continuance of medication.
3. Any unused medication left over two weeks after the last dosage will be destroyed.
4. Changes in prescription medication require either a new prescription labeled bottle or written physician request for dosage change. A new parental permission request is to accompany any change in medication.
5. It is requested that medication be brought to the clinic by the parent and given to the school designated person. No medication will be transported by any school transportation service personnel.
6. Vitamins, minerals, diet supplements, and special diets must be accompanied by a physician’s written order.
7. Please note, we cannot do something different from what the physician has ordered.

Clinic Responsibility:

In order to administer prescription medication, the medication shall be in the original container and be properly labeled. Clinic staff will properly document the dispensing of all medications in the clinic.

Storage of Medications:

Non-prescription medication shall be properly stored as authorized by the building principal. Prescription medication shall be properly stored in the clinic or office area in a locked container.

Liability:

The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District Board of Trustees and its employees (Superintendent, principals, classroom teachers, supervisors, counselors, registered nurses, teachers’ aides, secretaries, health aides, or any other classified person employed by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch I.S.D.) shall have immunity from civil liability from damages or injuries resulting from administering of medication to a student. Nothing herein shall be construed to grant immunity from a civil liability for injuries resulting from gross negligence.

A properly labeled prescription bottle is a bottle with a pharmacy label. All non-prescription medication must be in its original container with the original label and student’s name. We will not accept any medication in unlabeled bottles, baggies, etc., as they do not meet the above policy under which we operate.

Dispensing Requests:

Written requests for dispensing medication must include the following:

• Date
• Student’s name
• Name of medication
• Dosage
• Specification of the time the medication is to be administered (number of times per day or hourly intervals)
• Signature of parent or legal guardian