Student Handbook
We’re here to provide you with guidance to make the most of the opportunities available at ClayWorld School.
To all students
Welcome to Centertown Elementary, where we’re excited to greet all our new students! Our school has a strong history of academic success, and we encourage every student to continue striving for excellence. We offer a variety of extra-curricular activities, allowing each student to explore their interests and talents. We value the partnership between parents/guardians and teachers, as it plays a crucial role in helping every student reach their full potential. For more detailed information about school policies, you can find the Policy Manual of Warren County Board of Education at the Central Office Teacher’s Center, located at 2548 Morrison Street. Feel free to review this manual during our regular office hours, from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday.
MISSION STATEMENT
At ClayWorld School, we’re committed to the success of each and every student in our learning community.
VISION OF THE SCHOOL
At ClayWorld School, our faculty and staff are dedicated to assisting every student in achieving excellence in learning, social responsibility, and self-worth. Our goal is to prepare students for success in their future careers, college, and lifelong endeavors.
ADMISSION AND IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
- Proof of age and residency within Centertown School and Warren County is required for new students entering a Tennessee school.
- Students entering kindergarten through 12th grade must have the necessary immunizations or documented exemptions.
- Seventh-grade students must meet new immunization requirements set by the state of Tennessee.
- Students without proper immunization documentation will be sent home until the required documentation is provided, according to Board Policy JGCA.
- Kindergarten students must be at least 5 years old by August 15th of the current school year.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
At ClayWorld School, we do not discriminate based on race, gender, color, religion, national origin, age, or handicap in providing educational programs, activities, or opportunities.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
NEGLECT/ABUSE POLICY
CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE POLICY
VISITORS
When you visit our school, please park in a designated spot. All visitors must check in at the office upon arrival, sign the logbook, and obtain a visitor’s badge. Our faculty and administration are eager to meet with you and address any concerns you may have. To ensure uninterrupted instructional time, please schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher after class. If you need to relay a message to your child, please visit the office, and we will call the child for you.
SCHOOL DELIVERIES
Our school opens its doors to students at 7:00 a.m., and we kindly request that students do not arrive before this time. Upon arrival at 7:00 a.m., students should follow their teachers’ instructions and report to the cafeteria or gym. Classes begin promptly at 7:45 a.m., and students should enter the building through the front entrance. Parents who wish to visit classrooms are asked to first report to the office and make arrangements. Safety is our top priority, so we ask all drivers to adhere to the 15 mph speed limit on campus. Additionally, please refrain from using cell phones while driving, as this is prohibited by state law on school grounds. Violations may result in citation by law enforcement officers. For the safety of all students, please avoid dropping off students in front of the gym. The school day concludes at 2:45 p.m., at which time students who walk home or are picked up by parents may leave. All students must be picked up by 3:10 p.m.
TARDIES
Being punctual to school and class is crucial for effective teaching, learning, and ensuring promotion to the next grade. Warren County offers free school bus transportation to students, so tardiness due to car issues, traffic, oversleeping, etc., are not considered valid excuses. School starts promptly at 7:45 a.m. Given heavy traffic around 7:30 a.m., we advise planning accordingly.
Students are allowed to go to their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. It’s important for students to be in their classrooms when the 7:45 a.m. bell rings to avoid being marked tardy. Students arriving late must report to the office for a tardy slip. If your child is tardy, please come inside to sign them in. If they’re not signed in, you’ll be contacted to return to school to do so.
• Three tardies or unexcused early dismissals in the same quarter will result in a warning, with the parent notified by the attendance clerk. • On the fourth tardy or unexcused early dismissal in the same quarter, the student will receive two hours of After School Instruction (ASI), and the parent will be called for a conference. • On the fifth tardy or unexcused early dismissal in the same quarter, the student will meet with the school principal and/or District Attendance Director. They’ll also be placed on an attendance contract for the remainder of the quarter. If the student is out of zone, they’ll be required to attend their zoned school.
SIGN – OUT
If a student needs to leave during the school day, they must be signed out in the school office by a parent, guardian, or designated adult. No student should leave campus without proper sign-out procedures. The person signing out the student should report to the office, where the student will be contacted. Authorization cards (yellow cards) must be filled out during registration, and only individuals listed on the student’s card are allowed to sign them out.
Students leaving early or arriving late will accrue time counted towards a full day’s absence. If a student is going home with another student, a note signed by the parents stating the arrangement and bus details must be provided. This note should be brought to the office, initialed by the secretary, and returned to the student for the bus driver.
All arrangements must be made in advance, and students are not permitted to call home to make changes. Due to recent safety concerns, phone calls changing a child’s pick-up plan will no longer be accepted. Parents must come to the school to change the pick-up plan. For safety reasons, there will be no sign-outs allowed after 2:30 p.m. If school personnel are not familiar with you, proof of identity, such as a photo ID, will be required.
DROP OFF
For safety reasons, student drop-off will not be allowed before 7:00 a.m. If your child is dropped off earlier, you may receive a phone call from the SRO or school administration. There’s a designated lane in front of the building for parents to pull forward and drop off students. From 7:30 a.m., an employee will assist students to exit the car and enter the building due to high traffic. Parents who choose to park and not join the drop-off line will need to walk their child to the door.
Students shouldn’t be released in the parking lot to enter the building unescorted due to morning traffic. It’s important for the drop-off line to move efficiently, so please have your child ready to exit when they reach the front. If you’re not prepared to release your child immediately, please park rather than hold up the line.
Avoid dropping off your child on the opposite side of the building, as this is the bus lane and unsupervised entry is not allowed. Violations may result in phone calls from the SRO or school administration. Please also observe school zone speed limits as you leave campus, and remember that cell phone usage while driving is prohibited by state law on campus
DISMISSAL
School ends at 2:45 p.m., and students who walk home or are picked up by parents may leave at this time. All students will be picked up in the car rider line. Please note that due to heavy traffic and traffic control, there will be no sign-outs in the office after 2:30 p.m.
The drive next to the gym will be reserved for Kindergarten students and their siblings, as it takes additional time for these students to load and be buckled up by their parents. However, this line will not be available to Kindergarten parents after 3:00 p.m. due to bus loading zones. Any Kindergarten student or sibling not picked up by 3:00 p.m. will be transferred to the regular car rider line, and parents should join that line to pick up their students.