Middle School Handbook

Introduction

FRA publishes a handbook and directory and every family receives a copy of at the beginning of the school year. Since questions relating to attendance, tardiness, and dress code occur most often each policy is included below:

Attendance

Daily attendance and punctuality are essential to academic achievement and the total development of students at FRA. The Tennessee Compulsory Attendance Law places the burden of regular attendance on parents. Unnecessary absenteeism has a negative effect on everyone: students who are absent miss instruction time, teachers must make arrangements for make-up work, and other students in the class are restricted from moving ahead to new concepts.

Excused absences include:

Illness
Death in the Family
Religious Holidays
School-sponsored Trips

Absences of this nature are understandable and the school will make every effort to assist the student with make-up work. Parents are encouraged to plan vacations and personal trips on stated school holidays or during the summer months. Absences due to vacations, extended school holidays and other personal trips are considered unexcused. An unexcused absence will result in a zero (0) for each class missed by the student. The student is responsible for reviewing the material covered during the absence. Details regarding unexcused absences must be communicated in writing to the dean of the appropriate school well in advance.

Students with excessive absenteeism and tardiness are subject to loss of course credit. Except in the case of a serious illness or accident substantiated by a statement from the attending physician, students who miss more than 18 class periods in a yearly course and 9 in a semester course will receive no credit.

Tardies, Return from Absence, Early Dismissal

Tardies:

When students are tardy to school, they should sign in immediately at the appropriate office. Students who are tardy must bring a note, signed by a parent, explaining the circumstances causing the tardiness. All students must have an Admit Pass before going to class. Unexcused tardiness to school results in a detention hour for the offending student in grades 5-12. Any student with more than 10% unexcused tardiness will be place on probation for the following grading period. Failure to comply with tardiness policies may result in dismissal.

Absences:

When a student is absent from school, a parent must report the absence to the school office prior to 9:00 a.m. Upon returning to the school and before the beginning of the school day, students must bring a note signed by a parent or guardian explaining the circumstances causing the absence.

Early Dismissals:

If a student needs to be dismissed during the school day for a doctor's appointment, a note signed by a parent must be brought to the appropriate office before school. When students leave or return to campus, they must check in and out of the office. No student is allowed to leave school without parental permission.

Dress Code

There is a close relationship between positive scholarship and the neatness and appropriateness of student dress. The intent of the dress code is to maintain an optimum learning environment throughout the school day and at all school-sponsored activities. It is the purpose of the dress code to create an environment conducive to learning and to uphold standards of propriety and modesty. Acceptable and appropriate school dress will be left to the discretion of the administration and faculty.

Please reviewthe FRA dress code for the 2006-2007 school year.