Student Handbook
Principal’s Welcome
Welcome to the Nannie Berry Family! We are so excited to have you as a member of our school, where we have served the Hendersonville Community for over sixty years.
Dr. Susan Kolmer
Susan Kolmer
Important Phone Numbers
| Department | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Nannie Berry Elementary | 615-822-3123 |
| Cafeteria | 615-264-6006 |
| Berry Patch Before/After Care | 615-824-5470 |
| Sumner County Board of Education | 615-451-5200 |
PTO
We are proud of our vibrant and active Parent Teacher Organization at NBE. All families are encouraged to participate with PTO. The primary mission of this group is to support teacher/staff needs, student experiences, and build a strong school community. For more information about PTO, email Nannie Berry PTO.
Using This Handbook/School Website
This handbook serves to address the most regularly needed information for families. More can be found by visiting our website: NBE. All policies are in support of the policies set forth by the Sumner County Board of Education. The district handbook can be accessed online at Sumner Schools, under the Parents & Students tab.
Social Media
NBE has worked hard to establish an outstanding reputation. If you have any questions or concerns, we ask that you contact your teacher or an administrator rather than posting frustrations on social media. We want to work with you to resolve concerns, which we can only do if you contact us directly.
School Day
The NBE instructional school day is from 8:30-3:30. Families are asked to have students in the classroom by 8:28. Instruction and routines begin right away.
AM Arrival
All students report to the gym in the morning until 8:20, unless they are eating breakfast in the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to use this time for reading, as toys are not permitted.
Car Rider Information
Car Riders should be dropped off at the bottom level.
Doors open at 8:00AM and close at 8:29AM.
Dismissal: One car rider sign is issued to each family. Please write your child’s name on the sign and make sure it is in view when you pick up your child.
Students are only released to cars with their name on the sign. It is Tennessee state law that you are to stay off your cell phone once you arrive within the NBE school zone. Please practice buckling and unbuckling prior to joining the car rider line, as we want parents to stay in the car to make the line run efficiently.
Students should not be dropped off or walked into the front office unless arriving after 8:30.
School Bus Information
The bus is an extension of our school, and all rules of conduct and behavior apply. A student who demonstrates repeated unsafe choices on the bus risks forfeiting his/her bus privileges as these choices threaten the safety of others. Any questions concerning bus issues (routing, driver conduct, stops, etc.) are addressed through the SCS Transportation department at 615-452-1520.
Berry Patch Before/After Care
NBE offers before school care beginning at 6:30am and after school until 6pm. Unfortunately, drop-in students are not accepted under any circumstances. For more details about this program, please contact Shaaron Williams.
Attendance
It is crucial that students are at school learning every day. A student must be present for at least half the day to be considered present. A student who misses more than half the day is considered absent. Nannie Berry is dedicated to reducing chronic absenteeism, which is missing 10% of the school year or 17 days, whether excused or unexcused.
Excused Absences
- Excused absences must come in the form of writing to the classroom teacher or to Peggy Gigax. Phone calls cannot be accepted.
- Parents/Guardians are allowed 5 parent notes per semester. If a note is not provided, the absence is unexcused.
- After 3 unexcused absences, parents will be required to attend a meeting to sign an attendance contract.
- After 6 unexcused absences, the student is reported to the Sumner County Schools truancy department.
Adequate reasons for absence include:
- Student’s personal illness, medical appointment, or hospitalization. If the illness or hospitalization is to exceed ten (10) consecutive days, the parent or guardian should apply for homebound instruction after the first five (5) days of consecutive absences. Please contact the school for more information about homebound services.
- Death of a family member or death of a non-family person (if approved by the principal)
- Religious holidays if observed by a particular faith. A parent note must be submitted to the principal prior to the student’s absence.
- Required court appearances. Verification of court appearance times from appropriate authorities must be provided.
- Approved school related activities
- Other extenuating circumstances as approved by the principal.
*Any questions pertaining to attendance should be directed to Peggy Gigax.
Late Arrivals
If a student is tardy (arrives after 8:30), the parent must walk into the office with the child to sign the student in. The student will be given a pass to be admitted to class. Students leaving early also counts toward tardiness. Students will be called to the office once the parent has arrived in the office. Excessive tardiness may result in a referral to the Sumner County Schools truancy department. In addition, students may be prevented from attending schoolwide events or field trips.
Make Up Work
Students are allowed the number of days missed +1 to make up work, which is provided by the classroom teacher.
Dismissal Changes
All transportation requests for dismissal changes must be made by the parent/guardian prior to 3:00pm. After this time, the office is preparing for dismissal and cannot efficiently communicate additional changes. These requests should be made through the front office, NOT the classroom teacher. Please email Amanda Rennie with any changes.
Walkers/Bike Riders
Students who walk home will be escorted in a group to the entrance of the Indian Hills subdivision or to the corners of Martin & Sequoyah and Saratoga & Indian Lake. Parents/guardians are encouraged to meet students, as the school is not responsible for their safety beyond that point. Walkers must live within the walking zone. Out of respect to our neighbors, parents may not wait in their car in the neighborhood.
Changing Your Bus
If a bus needs to be changed long term or a student needs to be dropped off at a different location for a single day, parents should notify the NBE front office. All bus changes must be made in writing and must be signed by the parent/guardian. This note should specify the child’s name, street address, parent phone number, the bus number the child will ride, the reason for the change, and the date. Students will not be permitted to ride a new bus (temporary or long term) without prior office notification.
Checking Out Students
To maximize security, students will only be allowed to leave campus with persons indicated on their registration card. Any exception must be put in writing by the primary custodian. Students will not be released to anyone under the age of 18 (without permission from the principal).
Visitors
We are pleased to have you visit us at NBE. Please have your driver's license out and ready to be seen when approaching the front door. We use the Lobby Guard system at the front desk to sign visitors in and out. The system will print out a badge which you will wear for the duration of your visit. Visitors are only permitted to visit the locations to which were stated in Lobby Guard. When you are ready to leave, you will come back through the office and scan your badge. This will complete the sign out process.
Cafeteria Visitors
Please observe the following guidelines concerning visiting for Lunch:
- In the interest of space, please limit your visits to one time a week.
- Students may invite one friend with them to sit at their table (in addition to the adult visitor).
- Designated tables are set up in the lobby.
- Please dress school-appropriate.
- Fast food is not permitted in the cafeteria. This is seen as competition with our School Nutrition program and is not permitted.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate kids, and that includes birthdays! If you choose to send in treats, be sure to include enough for the whole class. We ask that you refrain from delivering flowers or balloons, as these can be problematic on the bus and at dismissal. We cannot send these home.
Volunteering
Classroom teachers love volunteers! Please reach out to your classroom teacher and PTO via email to ask how you can provide support.
Clinic/Medication
Our school office provides basic first aid. If your child shows symptoms of illness or has a fever of 100.4 or greater, please keep your child at home for 24 hours. Over the counter and prescription drugs can only be administered at school with proper forms completed by your child’s physician. Medication must be brought in the original container with current instructions. If your child forgets to take medication in the morning, you will need to come to school and administer it yourself. Medication must be picked up by the last day of school, or it will be destroyed.
Grading/Report Cards
Student grades can be viewed anytime on Skyward. Grades will be most current and accurate every 4 ½ weeks (Progress Reports) and 9 weeks (Report Card). Please contact your teacher at any time with questions about your child’s performance.
Grading Scale (1st-5th)
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 90-100 |
| B | 80-89 |
| C | 70-79 |
| D | 60-69 |
| F | 59 and below |
Grading Scale (K/1) Standards Based
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 3 | Student has mastered the standard |
| 2 | Student is progressing toward mastery |
| 1 | Student is significantly short of mastery |
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
In September, your child’s teacher will extend an invitation to meet and discuss your child’s progress. If you would like to meet again, please contact your teacher to set up an appointment. We are happy to make those arrangements.
Homework
The purpose of homework is to develop fluency of a skill or deepen understanding of the instruction presented in class. Many grade levels utilize Sumner Reads, which is fluency practice at home. Further homework assignments are at the discretion of the individual teacher. Students are expected to complete homework to the best of their ability.
Dress Code
Sumner County Schools has established a district-wide dress code policy. For the full policy and visuals, please visit NBE.
- Undergarments are always covered.
- Tops have sleeves or wide straps, are not transparent, and overlap the waistband.
- Bottoms can include sweatpants and leggings. Holes in jeans must be below mid-thigh. Leggings must be paired with tops that extend past the student’s wrist.
- Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be long enough to cover the mid-thigh.
- Shoes must have heel straps. Running shoes are safest for recess and PE. Shoes with wheels are not permitted.
- Shorts should be worn under dresses for PE.
Weapons Policy
Any student who brings a weapon to school is subject to consequences including possible expulsion from school for one calendar year (Sumner County Board policy).
Threats against one or multiple students will be investigated fully and may result in a disciplinary hearing with Sumner County Schools or being charged with legal action.
Textbooks/Library Books
Textbooks and library books are issued to students for their academic classes and to promote literacy. Damaged or lost items are the responsibility of the student. Replacement cost of library books will be determined by the school, to include purchase and appropriate binding.
Special Education Services
NBE offers a variety of special education services. Children in need of speech/language therapy, gifted education, and/or those that demonstrate a learning disability are served at NBE. We strive to meet these students’ needs in the least restrictive environment – keeping them with their peers as much as possible.
Each special education student receives services under an Individualized Education Plan which dictates the accommodation to be provided. Students are served in either the inclusion (stay in their classroom with additional support) or small group intervention (different setting with a certified teacher). Students must meet Tennessee state criteria to be served in these programs.
Field Trips
Field Trips are an excellent way to enrich a student’s learning outside of our campus. In the interest of safety, students must travel to and from a field trip on the school bus. Only in the case of an emergency will students be permitted to ride in alternate transportation. In consideration of planning logistics, liability, and safety, younger siblings are not permitted to attend field trips. We ask parent chaperones to commit their full attention to the student group they are asked to supervise.
Cell Phones/Smart Watches
It is not permissible for students to have their cell phones/smart watch out at any time. If a student brings a cell phone/smart watch to school, these devices should be turned off (not vibrate/silent) and kept in backpacks while at school. Failure to comply with this policy while on school campus could result in confiscation of the phone/watch, at which point it would be held in the office until a parent can pick it up. Nannie Berry is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones, which are often safest at home.
Purses
Purses must be kept in the student’s backpack. If an item is needed for the restroom, the student may take the purse to the restroom and return it once completed.
Toys
Toys are not permitted at school, except for specific school-designated days and recess toys directed by the classroom teacher. Toys may be confiscated by the teacher and returned at the end of the day.
House System/House Points
At NBE, we believe in reinforcing positive behaviors that are essential for learning. All students at NBE are randomly placed in a house (Altruismo, Amistad, Isibindi, Reveur). Students remain in the same house until they leave NBE. New students with an older sibling/NBE employee-parent will join the same house as a legacy.
Faculty members award points to students that exemplify the values in our Bulldog 7 Habits.
Bulldog 7 Habits
Our goal at NBE is to enrich students in a safe and positive learning environment. The Bulldog 7 Habits are a set of values developed to build character and sustain a culture of excellence and respect. Expectations for appropriate behavior extend from the student’s front door and back home again.
Students who are excellent models may receive a 4 on their daily behavior calendar, which may lead to a positive phone call home and/or being named Bulldog of the Week.
Behavioral Consequences
Rules and expectations are standardized throughout the building as PAWSome Behavior. Teachers will provide consequences for minor misbehavior; major misbehavior will result in an office referral with the administrator. Families are contacted with a plan for next steps and/or consequences. Students with excellent behavior, receiving zero office referrals and less than three classroom referrals, are celebrated at the Bulldog Behavior Bash while other students meet with the counselor to practice PAWSome Behavior.
Bullying/Threatening Behavior
“Bullying” is defined as a repeated pattern of behavior from one party toward another that is considered threatening or intimidating and is done with the intention of causing harm. Students who feel they are being mistreated by a peer should confide in their teacher or school counselor.
Counseling Services
Students may speak privately with our school counselor about any issues impacting their emotional health, in or out of school. Students may leave a request to see the counselor in the red box outside the main office. We ask students to attempt to resolve in-school issues with their peers and teachers before seeking out the counselor.
Cafeteria
The NBE cafeteria is a vital part of our daily operation. Students are offered a balanced, nutritious meal every day. Parents can manage student accounts online. Students may also send money/checks to school in a sealed envelope with the child’s name and their teacher’s name. Checks should include the student’s name. Applications for meal benefits can be completed at LINQ Connect Benefits Application. Students can charge lunch if necessary. However, a la carte items cannot be charged. Please pay charges immediately upon learning of them.
Cafeteria Rules
Please help by practicing and discussing these expectations at home with your child:
- Obtain all needed condiments, utensils, napkins, etc. on the first trip through the line. If an item is forgotten, students will raise their hand with a hand signal to wait for assistance.
- Students will remain seated with their hands to themselves. Their belly buttons should stay facing the table. Feet stay under the table.
- Students do not share food, as it is important to respect the food wishes of each family.
- Talking is allowed and encouraged during lunch. However, excessive volume may result in a brief silent period to restore order.
- Students are responsible for keeping the area around them clean and free of trash.
- Students are encouraged to use the restroom before or after lunch. They will raise their hand for permission from staff to leave the cafeteria for the restroom during lunch. (K-2 to kindergarten restroom and 3-5 to fourth grade restroom.)
- Parents are encouraged to send food, containers, and wrappers that students can open without assistance. Please practice any new items at home before sending them to school.
- Please do not send glass bottles.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Students at NBE have access to a variety of activities including:
- Art Club (4th/5th)
- Book Club (4th/5th)
- Cheerleading (3rd-5th)
- Drama Club (3rd-5th)
- Golf Club (5th)
- Running Club (K-5th)
- Science Club (3rd-5th)
- Student Leadership Club (4th/5th)
Nannie Berry Elementary Every single student. Every single day. The Nannie Berry Way!