Lynn Pinson, Administrator

School starts promptly at 8:05 A.M. each morning. Students are counted tardy at 8:10 A.M. Dismissal time is 3:20 p.m. for all students.

Students of working parents may arrive at school as early as 7:00 A.M. Supervision is provided. Once students arrive on campus in the morning, they will not be allowed to leave the campus under any circumstances, except with the principal’s approval. (See also Signing Out). All students must be dropped off and picked up at the front entrance unless permission is granted by the principal.

Students must vacate the campus as soon as possible after the 3:20 P.M. bell rings unless they are in an activity supervised by a teacher or unless they are enrolled in the Extended Day program.

The Extended Day program is a service provided free of charge to parents who work full time outside the home. The program is offered from 3:20 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Parents must enroll their children in the program and must abide by the rules established for the program. The rules for the extended day program are outlined in the form that must be signed when enrolling a student in the Extended Day program.

To receive the maximum benefit from classroom and instructional participation, it is important that a student report to school on time each day. Students tardy for school are required to bring a written excuse the same morning.

Students tardy after 8:10 A.M. will report to the office, accompanied by a parent or guardian where they will receive a tardy slip and their name will be deleted from the morning’s absentee report.

After 5 tardies, a family will be referred to the School Discipline Committee and placed under an attendance contract. Should the contract be broken, the family will be referred to the BCCS Board for further action which may include a recommendation to appear before the Mitchell County Attendance Task Force. It is the desire of both the faculty and the board that the available slots at BCCS be filled with students who are at school on time, unless unavoidably detained. Students with 5 or more tardies will not be eligible for Perfect Attendance or Good Attendance certificates.

Perfect attendance is the goal for every BCCS student. However, circumstances may arise which prevent this. Students who have been absent must bring a note from a parent or legal guardian on the day they return to school. Any absences not followed up with a note will be considered unexcused. Excused absences are those for personal illness or death in the family. All other absences must be approved in advance by the principal. More than one unexcused absence is grounds for dismissal from BCCS. All missed assignments must be made up promptly.

persist after being place on a contact, the family will be referred to the BCCS Board for further action which may included referral to the Mitchell County Attendance Task Force. The BCCS promotion policy states that a student must attend a minimum of 162 of the required 180 days.

Students are expected to attend class daily. It is the intent of the faculty and the Board that available slots at BCCS be filled by students who desire to learn each day. Skipping class is considered a serious infraction. Immediate referral will be made to the Discipline Committee and the student will be placed under an attendance contract. Should the contract be broken, recommendation for expulsion will be made to the Board.

If a student becomes ill during the day, the office will contact the parent. The parent, or designated adult, must sign for the student to leave the school.

If a student has to leave school for an appointment, a note should be sent for the teacher and the office to see. The parent, or designated adult, must sign in the office for the child to leave school. If the student returns to school, she/he must report to the office for the time to be recorded. A maximum of 5 sign-outs will be allowed. Additional sign-outs will result in referral to the Discipline Committee and the student will be placed under an attendance contract. Should the contract be broken, recommendation will be made to the Board to dismiss the student permanently.

The faculty of BCCS recognizes that carefully planned homework can be of considerable educational value. There are four general reasons for the assignment of homework:

1. To make up work lost because of absence.

2. To meet the need for extra study or drill in an area where a pupil is having considerable difficulty.

3. To do work that can be done more effectively at home than at school.

4. To assist a pupil in acquiring progressively better home study techniques and some ability for independent work.

Students are expected to complete all homework assignments and to turn them in on time. Each teacher has his/her own homework policy which should be adhered to by each student and family.

The BCCS Family Contract states, "I will supervise my child’s homework. If I am incapable of supervising my child’s homework, I will notify the school and cooperate with the school to establish an acceptable alternative method for assuring that my child’s homework is completed on schedule."

Should a pattern of neglect be established, the family will be referred to the Discipline Committee and placed under a homework contract. Should the contract be broken, the family will be referred to the Board with recommendation for expulsion.

Every student is required to maintain the level of personal hygiene necessary to insure a healthful school environment and to abide by the BCCS uniform code.

1. Students must wear the blue or green polo style shirt with the official BCCS logo.

2. Khaki pants, jumpers, skorts, or shorts must also be worn.

3. All clothing must be of appropriate fit and length. Shorts must have at least a 6 inch inseam.

4. Blue jeans may be worn on Fridays.

5. Shirt tails must be tucked in at all times while in uniform.

6. No cutoffs or frayed edges of any sort may be worn to school.

7. Pre-K -5^th grade students may not wear backless shoes. Tennis shoes are preferred. In the upper grades, boys may not wear backless shoes, and flip-flop styles are not allowed at all for girls.

8. Boys’ hair must be above the collar, above the ears, and above the eyebrows.

9. Girls’ hair must be worn out of the face.

10. All hair must be of a viable natural color.

11. No facial hair or sideburns may be worn.

12. Boys may not wear earrings. Girls may wear no more than two earrings in each ear. No other piercings may be visible.

13. Tattoos are not acceptable.

14. All pants must be worn around the waist.

15. Baggy clothing is not allowed.

16. Pants with belt loops require belts.

17. Hats and caps are not allowed.

18. No emblems, insignias, badges, or other symbols where the effect is to distract the attention of others or cause disruption may be worn. The principal shall determine whether any particular mode of dress, apparel, grooming or use of such symbols violates this rule.

Repetitive dress code violations will be referred to the Discipline Committee and the student will be placed under contract. Should the contract be broken, referral will be made to the Board for further action.

Students in Junior High and High School will dress out for PE. Students must wear a solid gray T-shirt and navy blue gym shorts with tennis shoes. There will be no exceptions to this dress code. Violations will be referred to the Discipline Committee and placed under contract.

All students are expected to participate fully in PE. A written excuse is needed for a student who cannot participate in PE. A doctor’s excuse is needed for 3 days or more.

Listen carefully.

Follow directions.

Work quietly.

Do not disturb others.

Respect others; be kind with words and actions.

Respect school and personal property.

Work and play safely.

Sticks, rocks and other harmful objects stay on the ground.

Children must remain within the grass perimeter of the playground. Children may not be on the sidewalk or in the street.

Children may not cross the road without the permission of an adult.

Only one person may be on the slide at a time.

Children may not slide backwards.

Children may not jump from the swing.

Only two children may be on the seesaw at a time. No walking on the seesaw allowed.

Keep playground clean and free of litter.

Children may not swing upside down on the monkey bars.

The tether ball, basketball goals and soccer goals must be used properly. They are not for swinging or climbing.

Eat quietly and then whisper.

Use good table manners.

Enter through the front door and exit through the back door.

2-3 students should help clean-up tables each day.

Students may not randomly get out seats to empty trash.

Walk on the right side of the hallway.

Be quiet.

Walk.

Report cards will be sent home at the end of each nine weeks. Report cards indicate the progress the child has made during the grading period. The grading system for BCCS is as follows:

S-Satisfactory A= 90-100

N-Needs Improvement B=80-89

U-Unsatisfactory C=70-79

F= Below 70

Grades of Unsatisfactory (U) or below 70 are considered failing grades.

No student shall:

a. occupy any school building, gymnasium, school grounds, properties or part thereof with intent to deprive others of its use;

b. block the entrance or exit of any school building, property, corridor or room thereof so as to deprive others access thereto;

c. set fire to or otherwise damage any school building or property;

d. discharge, display or otherwise threateningly use any firearms, explosives or other weapons on school premises;

e. prevent the convening or continued functioning of any school, class, activity, lawful meeting or assembly on school campus;

f. prevent students from attending a class or school activity;

g. except under the direct instruction of the principal, block normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a school campus or adjacent grounds;

i. in any other manner, by the use of violence, force, noise, coercion, threat, intimidation, fear, passive resistance, or any other conduct, intentionally cause the disruption of any lawful mission, process or function;

j. refuse to identify himself/herself upon request of any teacher;

k. activate a fire alarm under false pretense.

A student shall not damage, destroy, dispose of, or steal either school or private property, at any time, whether on the school grounds or during a school activity, function or event off school grounds.

A student shall not cause physical injury to or behave in such a way as could reasonably be expected to cause physical injury to any person.

Assault: Any threat or attempt to physically harm another person or any act, which reasonably places another person in fear of physical harm. (Example: threatening language or swinging at someone in an attempt to strike.)

Battery: Intentionally making physical contact with another person in an insulting, offensive, or provoking manner or in a way that physically harms the other person. (Example: fighting)

Bullying: Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so; or any intentional display of force that would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm. Bullying can be physical, verbal or written.

A student shall not possess, handle, or transmit any object that reasonably can be considered a dangerous weapon, or use any object in such a manner which reasonably might be expected to cause injury to another person.

A student shall not possess, sell, use, transmit, or be under the influence of any narcotic drug, hallucinogenic drug, amphetamine, barbiturate, marijuana, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind. The use of tobacco products is strictly forbidden. A student shall not possess any substance with the intent to imitate illegal drugs.

Appropriate use of a drug authorized by a medical prescription from a registered physician shall not be considered a violation of this rule.

A student shall not fail to comply with lawful directions (verbal and written) or commands of any principal, teacher, student teacher, substitute teacher, paraprofessional, school bus driver, volunteer, or other person in a position of authority within the school system.

A student shall not behave with disrespect toward any principal, teacher, student teacher, substitute teacher, paraprofessional, school bus driver, volunteer, or other person in a position of authority with the school system.

A student shall not communicate a threat to another student with the intention of extorting anything of value or any advantage or benefit for himself/herself or another person.

A student shall not sign the name of any person or any fictitious person to any document, which is to be submitted to any school official with the intention of gaining any benefit or advantage for the student signing the document or for any other student.

A student shall not use vulgar and/or profane language/materials (this includes written verbal or non-verbal expressions and possession of pornography in any form) on school property or in the vicinity thereof.

A student shall not attempt to violate any of the substantive rules contained herein.

A student shall not encourage, urge or counsel others to violate any of the substantive rules contained herein.

A student shall not possess an electronic pager or communication device on school property except with written permission of the school principal. Parents must notify the principal if his/her child is in possession of an electronic tracking device, including cellular phones. All cellular phones must be checked into the office upon arrival and may be retrieved upon the student leaving campus. No headsets, radios, CDs, CD players or other handheld electronic devices are allowed. This also includes hand held electronic games such as a Game Boy. These items will be confiscated and not returned.

Sexual harassment of one student to another or from a student to an adult is prohibited. It is a violation of state and federal law for any person to sexually harass any other person. Sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of sexual or sexually oriented nature by anyone, including students."

A student shall not engage in physical sexual activity on school property or at school sponsored events. A student shall not be in possession of any sexually oriented device or material. No public displays of affection are allowed.

No student who is or has been pregnant may attend BCCS. No student who fathers or has fathered a child may attend BCCS.

A student shall not participate in any gang-related activity.

Any behavior based on a student’s race, national origin, sex or disability that is unwelcome, unwanted, and/or uninvited by the recipient is prohibited, including verbal or non-verbal taunting, or physical contact.

The following procedures shall be followed should a student exhibit a continual pattern of misbehavior that adversely affects the teaching or learning that should be going on in a classroom:

The teacher will arrange a meeting with the parents at which time the problem behaviors will be identified. The teacher and parents will develop a plan to improve behavior immediately.

Teacher will maintain a record of problems by using the school discipline forms. Should the student be written up twice for any of the major violations listed in the Conduct Code, he/she will be placed on a Discipline Contract.

The Academic and Discipline Committee will use a Discipline Contract to hold BCCS students accountable for their behavior. This contract is a signed document involving the student, the parents and the Administrator. This contract indicates problems, goals, and consequences for the student. Regular meetings with the student will be held with the Committee in a determined effort to redirect the student’s behavior in a positive direction.

BCCS will follow a "Three Strikes, You’re Out" policy. If a student is in violation of his /her contract three times, he/she will be recommended to the Governing Board for expulsion. For each strike, parents will be contacted by the Discipline Committee. In-school and out-of-school suspension may be assigned as a consequence for each individual strike.

The following violations may result in an automatic recommendation for expulsion:

a. Possession of weapons and/or dangerous instruments on campus or during school sponsored events

b. Possession of or being under the influence of narcotics, alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco products, or any substance used to imitate illegal drugs

c. Pregnancy (male or female involved)

d. Threats or assaults against any employee or volunteer of BCCS

e. Damage, destruction, or theft of property

f. Arrest and conviction of any student while on or off campus

 

Academic Contracts will also be used for students who are not performing up to their potential. If any student is failing two or more subjects at a nine week grading period, he/she will meet with the Academic and Disciplinary Committee to determine potential causes for the failing grades. Should the failing grades be determined to be the result of the student’s work ethic and attitude, that student will be placed on an academic contract. Once a student is on an Academic Contract, he/she will be required to improve all grades to a C or better during the next grading period.

Tutoring is offered at BCCS for students in need. A Homework Lab is provided for students who need extra help in completing assignments. If a student on Academic Contract does not improve his/her grades, a recommendation will be given to appear before the Governing Board to determine future enrollment privileges.

Students on Academic and Disciplinary Contracts will remain under contract for the duration of the school year. Students under contract may enter the next year on a probationary period of four weeks, at which time their contracts and progress will be evaluated. If the student has successfully attended the first four weeks with no disciplinary violations or failing grades, the contract will be terminated. However, should disciplinary problems arise during the remainder of the first nine weeks, the administrator reserves the right to place the student back on the discipline contract.

All recommendations for expulsion and Board referrals will be at the discretion of the Administrator.

Students are bound by the computer usage agreement signed by both the students and parents/guardians. Any usage outside this agreement will result in the suspension of privileges regarding the use of the computers.

Students who drive to school must be in at least the tenth grade and hold a valid Georgia driver’s license. A copy of the license must be on file in the office before the student is allowed to drive on campus. Should a license be suspended for any reason, the office should be notified immediately. Driving on campus with a suspended license is prohibited and will result in the permanent loss of driving privileges on the BCCS campus. Students must park in spaces designated by the principal. Any form of reckless driving on or near the BCCS campus may result in loss of driving privileges.

Parents are cordially invited and urged to confer with their child’s teachers on a regular basis concerning his/her progress in school. Parents are asked to call the school to make an appointment to meet with the teachers.

Conferences in the parking lot during drop-off and pick-up times are forbidden as teachers must focus on the safety of all children getting into and out of vehicles. Please wait for the teacher to return to her/his classroom to begin a conference.

No conferences may occur after 8:05 A.M. because teachers must begin their classes promptly. Should you need to speak with a teacher in the morning, please call and schedule an appointment and arrive early.

Under no circumstances will a parent, grandparent, guardian, or visitor go to a teacher’s room without prior approval in the office.

No phone calls may be forwarded to a teacher’s classroom during instructional time.

Any visitor to the school or school grounds must report to the office and sign in the visitor’s book. No one may go to a classroom without first reporting to the office and receiving a visitor’s pass. This is a safety precaution for the school and for our children. We welcome parents

and grandparents to visit, but the instructional time for the students and teachers must be protected. Volunteers are welcome in the classroom if they are performing a volunteer job for the teacher.

A student information sheet must be on file in the office and must include a phone number where the parent or guardian may be reached at all times. This is very important in case there is an emergency in which you child may be involved. Any change in name, address or phone number must be give to the office at once.

Any medication brought to the school by the students must be referred to the school office. The school secretary will assist in the student’s self-administration of prescribed medication provided the appropriate form is completed by the parent. Forms may be obtained at the school office. Prescription medicine must be in the original bottle with appropriate directions for administration and must have the child’s name on the bottle. Over the counter medications must be accompanied by a written, signed note that details the appropriate dosage.

Parents should not block driveways while waiting to pick up students. Drive through and park on the street if necessary. So that the pick-up line can continue to move, please do not get out of your car while in the pick-up line. Please do not engage in parent-teacher conferences in the driveway. Children who walk to school should be encouraged to go straight home in the afternoons.

All pick-up and drop-off must be done at the front entrance of the school. Do not go to the rear of the campus to pick-up or drop-off students. For the safety of our students, please enter the school driveway from Walton Street and exit onto School Street.

A bicycle rack is provided for the parking of bikes. Students are encouraged to have bicycle lock for security purposes. Students who ride bicycles should walk the bike off the campus and then ride it once they have exited the campus.

Textbooks and library books are very expensive. Students are expected to cover and properly care for their textbooks. The student must pay for lost or damaged textbooks or library books. Fines for damaged or lost books are based on the current replacement cost.

The average cost of hard library books is twelve to fifteen dollars, while paperback library books average five dollars. Please check with the school secretary for prices.

The individual classroom teacher schedules classroom parties at school. There may be differences among the teachers as to how many parties are scheduled and the manner in which the parties are held. Please check in advance if you have any questions about classroom celebrations. Please respect the individual teacher’s policy about parties. Parties should not interfere with the primary mission of the school, which is the educational instruction of the children.

Because the administrator and teachers are accountable for classroom instructional time, we will not be hosting birthday parties in the classroom. You may send a cookie or cupcake or other light refreshments to be eaten at recess. Please do not send party invitations to school to be distributed.

Any lost article at school is taken to the school office. Clothing is one of the main items that is not claimed. Write your child’s name in sweaters, jackets, caps and lunchboxes for identification in case these items become misplaced. Articles remaining at the end of the school year are donated to a local charity.

According to our Charter, each family is required to volunteer 20 hours each semester at our school. Single parents must volunteer 10 hours each semester. In order to be given credit, each volunteer must sign in the volunteer book to record the hours worked. Reminders will be posted two weeks prior to the end of the semester due date to remind those families who have not completed their hours. Families are asked to work throughout the semester, as opposed to waiting until the last week when there is an over-abundance of volunteers and consequently a lack of jobs. Saturday workdays are usually scheduled each semester for the benefit of those who are unable to come during the week. Volunteers are encouraged to check with the office or volunteer coordinator in advance as to what jobs will need to be performed on these workdays so you can bring your own tools. Should you wish to volunteer in the classroom, please contact the teacher the day before so she/he can plan tasks for you.

Other family members or friends may contribute up to 8 hours toward a family’s semester twenty hour commitment (four hours for single parents.) Parent attendance at PTO meetings may count for 2 hour per semester.

The Governing Board realizes that families will experience hardships. The Board gives the administrator the authority to work with families experiencing difficulty. All requests for a hardship must be submitted at least two weeks before the date that the hours are due. Any requests for hardships after the due date will be reviewed by the BCCS Governing Board.

Families who fail to meet the semester commitment are referred to the Board at which time further action concerning continued enrollment will be determined. A certified letter will be sent notifying these families of the date and time of the meeting. Failure to appear at the designated Board meeting will result in the termination of enrollment privileges, effective the last day of the quarter in question.

Students who have been suspended from school will not be allowed during the period of suspension to participate in any extra-curricular activities or to attend any school sponsored events. Any schoolwork from the period of suspension must be made up after regular school hours. The Discipline Committee may also place on probation a student who is readmitted to school following suspension or expulsion, and the terms of probation will be determined on an individual basis.

Any student may be searched with a duly issued warrant. Any student may be searched without a warrant where there is reasonable suspicion and such circumstances, which make it impractical to secure a warrant. (Example: Where a student is obviously under the influence of drugs, or where school officials have reasonably reliable reports or reasonable suspicion that the student possesses drugs and/or dangerous weapons and the student could get away if the authorities delayed to get a warrant.)

Other conditions under which school authorities would be acting properly in searching a student or his possessions without a warrant are:

a. if the student has consented;

b. if the contraband item is in plain view;

c. if the evidence or contraband is discovered while responding to an emergency;

e. in all other circumstances where the school official acts to protect the life and property and health of students, teachers, or other individuals.

As noted in the Family Contract each family signs at the time of registration, corporal punishment is one method of punishment used at BCCS.

The policy of BCCS in regards to corporal punishment will allow the Administrator, teachers and staff employees to use corporal punishment to obtain proper control and discipline; however, corporal punishment shall not be excessive or unduly severe. It is to be anticipated that corporal punishment will, with proper application, cause discomfort and pain and short time bruising. Corporal punishment shall not be the first line of punishment unless the student was told beforehand that specific behavior would result in corporal punishment.

Consequences before corporal punishment could be:

1) Verbal Warning

2) Letter/Lunch Room Detention

3) Letter/Recess Detention

4) Letter/Parent Meeting

5) Office Referral

Examples of conduct which could result in corporal punishment as the first line of punishment:

1) Fighting

2) Cursing

3) Stealing

4) Cheating

5) Destroying property

Parent(s) SHALL and WILL take an active part in the discipline of their child enrolled in BCCS. Parent(s) can administer corporal punishment to their own child on BCCS property. BCCS and its employees will not be held responsible for acts committed by a parent administering corporal punishment on BCCS property.

Administrator, teacher or any staff employees, employees by BCCS, can apply corporal punishment. It is recommended that there be a witness while corporal punishment is being administered. A witness can be any employee, parent, volunteer or any staff member.

The employee of BCCS shall make contact with the parent(s), either before or after, stating why corporal punishment was applied. Employee shall also notify the Administrator employed by BCCS.

At the beginning and throughout the school year, teachers will discuss proper classroom behavior with students. Teachers employed at BCCS cannot have classroom rules of conduct that conflict with BCCS policy.

The BCCS Board empowers its Administrator, teachers and staff to maintain a proper learning environment for its student body. If a student continues to be disruptive to the learning environment of other students, the Administrator can expel said student. The Administrator shall provide in writing to the Board of BCCS the reason why and the length of time. Parent(s) shall have the right to appeal the Administrator’s decision within ten (10) days in writing, to the BCCS Board, starting from the date the parent(s) were notified of the incident.

It is our belief that the parents and guardians of BCCS students are bound by the same honor code as the students. Realizing this, it is the policy of the BCCS Board of Directors to ensure that our faculty, staff and any volunteers are treated with respect and dignity. Any threat made against a faculty member, staff member, or volunteer, whether it is verbal, physical or written, will be considered an assault and will be reported to the proper legal authorities. Further action will then be taken by the BCCS Board which may include the permanent expulsion of the family from the school.

Under House Bill 1450, passed by the 1982 Georgia General Assembly, "parents and guardians of minor children will be liable for their willful or malicious damage to school property up to $5,000 plus court costs."