The official school day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m., and students must be in the classroom ready to work by this time. Children who are tardy must check in at the office before they are admitted to class. Children who arrive after 8:05 must be signed in at the office by the adult bringing them to school. We consider it the responsibility of the parents to have their children at school on time. Because we are a school of choice, satisfactory attendance is a requirement. Daily attendance is very important for all students. A total of 15 or more absences, tardies and/or early dismissals (excused or unexcused) a year is considered unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory attendance will result in denial of admittance for the upcoming school year. If a child has a chronic illness, documentation from a physician must be provided which states that the illness impacts a child’s ability to have timely, regular attendance. This documentation must be provided during the first nine weeks or upon diagnosis. To qualify for perfect attendance, a student must have no absences, tardies, or early dismissals. (See pages 5 & 6, Dismissal of Students During the School Day).

It is requested that all parents accompanying children seek Level 3 approval. As can happen, parents become separated from teachers during field trips, and we want to ensure the safety of both the children and the volunteer. We appreciate your support and commitment to the safety of our children. Fingerprinting is done Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30-4:30 at the SCS Board of Education, Room 164. The Level 3 application can be done in advance in the Campus School library, or at the time of fingerprinting. Please see Dr. Copeland if you have any questions or concerns.

Parents are encouraged to schedule doctor and dental appointments after school hours or during school breaks. It is requested that children not be checked out between 2:45 and 3:00. Teachers are trying to wrap up the day and get the students out safely and with the attention they need. All teachers are on duty between 3:00 and 3:15 and are not available for conferences unless scheduled in advance. If you are picking your child up in the foyer by the office, please do not go to the classrooms without signing in and getting an early dismissal slip. If you must check your child out early, send a note to the teacher requesting the early dismissal and stating the time and reason for dismissal. Early dismissals will be documented on the report card. To qualify for perfect attendance, a student must be present the entire school day. Please read the "Attendance" section in the handbook (pgs. 5 & 6) as early dismissals will impact the student’s attendance requirement.

Students are required to dress in a manner that supports student safety and engagement. All students will wear tan, navy, or black straight-legged or boot cut pants, cropped pants, cargo pants, straight-legged Capri pants, skirts, jumpers, or walking shorts (to the knee) of the appropriate size. Jeans and bell bottoms are not allowed. Students will wear white, royal blue, navy, or gray polo or button shirts (long or short-sleeved); sleeveless tops are not acceptable. All shirts and dresses must have a collar and dress shirts must be tucked in. Turtlenecks are allowed. No logos are allowed on clothing except for the Campus School logo. Shoes should not have heels higher than an inch and a half. Athletic or tennis shoes, as well as boots, are acceptable. If sandals are worn, they must have a heel strap. On P.E. days, students must wear appropriate shoes. Light jackets, vests, shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, and cardigans are permitted, but must be white, gray, black, tan, royal blue, or navy. Leggings must be solid gray, black, navy or white.

The school administration reserves the right to determine whether a student's attire and appearance are within the limits of decency, modesty, and safety. In matters of opinion, the judgment of the Director/designee shall prevail. The Director may allow exceptions for school-wide programs or special classroom activities.

The school administration will administer appropriate consequences for policy infractions. Students who do not follow uniform guidelines will have the following consequences: Warning: Parent contact, 2nd offense: parent conference, 3rd offense: office referral.

Parents make seek an exemption from dress code requirements or standardized dress/uniforms on religious or medical grounds as stated in SCS Policy 6021.

For complete guidelines, see “Dress for Success” at the end of handbook.

Learn More About School Uniforms >

Students arriving at 7:30 a.m. will wait in an assigned area until school begins. Prior to 7:30, students are not supervised. If students arrive before the recommended time on a regular basis, parents will be contacted.

Written permission from a parent or guardian will be required for any trip taken off campus. Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, and show proof of insurance. Students must use car seats as determined by the State of Tennessee as follows:

• Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4’9‖) in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer’s instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4’9”) in height, he/she must still use a seatbelt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.
• Children age nine (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4’9) or more in height, must be secured in a seatbelt system.

Parents who drive on field trips must be cleared by a background check every 12 months. Information is available in the office. Additional family members may not accompany the class on field trips except as adult supervisors. Visits by students/classes to sites on the U of M campus may be taken without notification or written permission from parents.

Shelby County Schools Board of Education addresses various health-related issues in the school by providing bi-annual vision screening, bi-annual hearing screening, and in-service for the school staff. There is an on-site nurse one day a week at Campus School. Staff members are trained in CPR and First Aid. The Office Coordinator and the Office Associate are responsible for dispensing medications to students. There must be a Permission to Medicate form on file in the office before any medication is dispensed. These forms require the signature of a medical doctor, even prescriptions for over-the-counter medications. Medication must be in the original bottle with dosage information and contain only ten (10) days dosage of medicine The name and phone number of each child’s physician and hospital must be on file in the office.

Students with a temperature of 100° or more or who have contagious illnesses are not allowed to attend class. Students should be picked up from school immediately.

Learn more about flu vaccine >

Meningitis info sheet >

Campus School has a unique calendar-year which is located on page 17. The calendar is sent home at the beginning of each school year and is also available in the office and on the website. In the event of inclement weather, Campus School will follow Shelby County Schools’ closing policy. Please go to the website at www.campusschool.org for information on how to receive text messages regarding school closings/emergencies.

Campus School’s philosophy on homework is:

• It is the responsibility of the student.
• It should be designed for practice and should not introduce a new concept.
• It should take an hour or less to complete for intermediate students and thirty minutes or less for primary students.

Students are expected to be in their homerooms between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. to get ready for the school day. This is a very important time to prepare mentally for the day, greet friends and teachers, and get materials ready as needed. Campus School instruction begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. We request your cooperation in getting your child to school on time as this will ensure your child the best chance for a successful day. Students who leave school before dismissal must sign out in the main office before 2:45 p.m. The school day ends at 3:00 p.m. and all students not involved in after-school activities must leave the university campus by 3:15 p.m. at which time the building doors are locked. Parents will be notified by mail, or a conference scheduled, after a child has not been picked up by 3:15 p.m. three (3) times during the school year. Information on after-school programs is available in the office.

Lost and found items will be kept in the west hallway outside of playroom.

Teachers will send home information and specific instructions when money is requested. Be sure the student’s name appears somewhere on all checks or money orders. Returned check fees are the responsibility of the issuer of the check. Final report cards can be held until financial obligations are met.

There are limited visitors’ parking spaces with meters available on the east side of Campus School. The other spaces are purchased and reserved by Campus School faculty. Please do not park in these numbered spaces. Violators are often ticketed.

A parking pass may be purchased from the UofM Parking Services which permits parking in the general lots only. The Campus School lot is reserved parking.

Shelby County Schools has issued a statement on their policies on truancy and unexcused absences. View statement >

Anyone entering the school must first stop by the main office to check in and receive a badge. It must be worn and be visible at all times while inside the building. This badge must be discarded in the office when the visitor checks out. When visiting students, permission must be requested and received through the main office to minimize interference with planned class activities.

Review Shelby County Schools' various levels of volunteering and the requirements for each position >