Our 2025-2026 Handbook provides all kinds of information about Percy Priest, from what to wear and how transportation works to explanations about events throughout the year. Check it out below or download the 2025-2026 PPE Handbook here.
Welcome to Percy Priest Elementary 2025-2026!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Percy Priest Elementary! We hope this short guide will give you helpful information about the year ahead for your student at PPE. There is a tremendous amount of information available at the school’s website that is pertinent to ALL students.
Visit us at www.percypriest.org for even more details.
This will be a year packed with fun your kids, and we welcome your questions and feedback. The PTO looks forward to supporting you and your child, and we would also love to have you volunteer at the school in small or large ways. Come join us!
Mary-Grace Robb
PTO President 2025-2026
presidentsPPE@gmail.com
Percy Priest Lingo
Friday Folders
Folders are sent home each Friday, filled with your child’s work from the week and announcements about happenings around PPE. They are to be returned empty each Monday. Be sure to check your child’s folder after school on Friday because teachers occasionally send home time-sensitive information.
INVEST
This is the PTO’s primary fundraising effort. PPE families are encouraged to contribute $375 per student. This funding is vital to pay for additional staff including Tiger Time Interventionists, Spanish, Physical Education, and counseling services who support all of our students, teachers, and staff. The INVEST campaign also supports the needs of our classroom and related arts teachers (Art, Health, Library, Music, PE, and Spanish). If you have questions about INVEST please contact the chairs at InvestPPE@gmail.com.
Mascot
Percy the Tiger is our school mascot.
Houses & House Meetings
Percy Priest utilizes a “house system” for grades Pre-K-5. This system provides every student with the opportunity to be a part of a team / community within the larger school population. In grades Pre-K-3, each homeroom is assigned to a house. In 4th grade, students participate in a ceremony at the beginning of the year where each student is invited to join a house. Students will remain in their house groups for their 4th and 5th grade years.
Throughout the school year students will participate in activities, challenges, and events associated with their houses. At the end of each month, students will participate in school-wide assemblies called House Meetings. These events will include student recognition, house activities, and presentations and speakers.
The 5 houses are listed below. Each house has a designated color and character trait. On house spirit days and house meeting days, students are invited to dress in their house color.
Altruismo – House of Givers. Color: Black
Amistad – House of Friendship. Color: Red
Sollevare – House of Uplifting. Color: Yellow
Isibindi – House of Courage. Color: Green
Reveur – House of Dreamers. Color: Blue
Navigator Weeks
At the end of each quarter students will participate in a Navigator Week. This week provides opportunities for us to build connections and elevate student voice. During these weeks students will:
-Complete an individual check-in with their homeroom teacher or another staff member assigned as their class navigator.
-Develop global-mindedness through participation in cultural learning and community service projects.
Orange Totes
All Pre-K and Kindergarteners use the same Orange Totes in lieu of backpacks. The PTO provides these totes at no cost and they will be available for pick up at Kindergarten Readiness Camp, All School Sneak-a-Peak, or in the front office on the first day of school.
They can be monogrammed with your child’s name but are otherwise uniform. Details about monogramming will be sent separately should you choose to do so.
School Clubs
There are several after school clubs offering throughout the year. These clubs are run by teachers and staff from different grade, as well as approved outside providers. Fees apply and topics vary. Details and registration forms will be sent home in Friday Folders and the PTO Newsletter. Information will also be available on the PPE Website in August. Clubs will not meet until after Labor Day.
School Meals
Students are welcome to eat breakfast at school daily.
Students are welcome to bring lunch from home or enjoy lunch from the Cafeteria. Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students at the Cafeteria this year. Students who bring lunch from home can purchase milk for $0.50. Cash is not accepted. You may add money using the My School Bucks App or at www.myschoolbucks.com.
For school menus click here.
To sign up to visit at lunch click here.
School Supply List
All grade level supply lists can be found here. If you have purchased items through our 1st Day School Supplies fundraiser, they will be shipped to the school the week of August 1st and delivered to the classroom.
Snacks
Students will have a snack during the school day. More information about what to send will be sent by your child’s classroom teacher.
Standard School Attire
PPE follows Metro Nashville Public School District’s policy pertaining to standard school attire. More information is available on the website for our school’s specific requirements are located here.
PPE “spirit wear” will be available for purchase from the Roar Store throughout the school year. “Spirit” shirts may be worn any day of the week. “Spirit” athletic shorts/skorts may only be worn on Fridays.
Transportation
All children arrive and depart from school as either bus riders, car riders, or walkers.
On the first day, many PPE families choose to walk their children to the school’s front entrance. Parking is encouraged on Priest Road and Wilshire Drive and it gets crowded! During the first week of school, all methods of transportation tend to be slower than normal – please plan accordingly.
Bus Riders
If you live more than 1 ¼ mile from school, you should receive information from the MNPS Transportation Department that details your child’s bus route number and pick-up and drop-off times and locations. This information can also be accessed at the MNPS website (www.MNPS.org) under Our Schools/Buses and Transportation. Other information regarding the opening of schools is also available on this website. Buses will arrive 15 minutes prior to school start time. Specific bus questions can be found in the MNPS Transportation document. If you are a bus rider, please review the MNPS Policy on bus conduct, rules, and safety. The Remind App also helps families keep up with their bus. To join, send a text message to 81010. The content of the message should be as follows:
Walkers
Students are eligible to be walkers if they live in the school zone and are close enough to walk to school. The preferred method of dismissal for all non-bus riders is the car rider line. Walkers are limited to those students who are walking from their home to school and from school to their home.
Walker Drop Off Protocol
Walkers may enter through the front door on Priest Road or through the car rider drop off doors in the back loop. Please use the location that is closest to your walking path. Please watch for bus and car traffic and walk on the sidewalks. Parking on Wilshire/other neighboring streets is not permitted.
Walker Pick Up Protocol
Walkers will be dismissed from the front porch on Priest Road or through the car rider exit in the back loop. The dismissal location will be the one closest to the walking path. Please watch for bus and car traffic and walk on the sidewalks. Parking on Wilshire/other neighboring streets is not permitted.
Pre-K Drop Off Protocol
Pre-K students will enter the loop on Otter Creek. Pre-K cars will follow the same initial path to enter the drop off loop. Cars will stay in the outside lane. Once a preK car passes the K-5 dropoff doors, the car will then move to the inside lane. This area between the K-5 drop off doors and the end of the building is the preK dropoff zone. A member of the preK team will check-in the student and gather students to enter the building. Families with a preK student and older siblings will drop off all students at the preK drop off zone. K-5 students will walk along the sidewalk and enter at the K-5 drop off doors. After dropping off, cars will continue in the inside lane around and exiting by turning left on Priest Road.
Pre-K Pick Up Protocol
Pre-K will dismiss in the back loop. Cars will enter the loop from Otter Creek in the inside (right) lane stopping at the fire hydrant by the retaining wall. Students will be signed out. After loading, cars will continue around the loop and exit by turning left on Priest Road.
Car Riders
Car Rider Numbers will be distributed to new families at the All School Sneak-a-Peak and Popsicle Party on Monday August 4, 2025. They can also be picked up on the first day of school. Returning families will continue to use the same number. Please work with your child to learn his or her Car Rider Number before school starts or even consider writing it on their tote bag/tag.
Teachers, Staff, and 5th Grade Ambassadors will be available to help students find their classrooms. PTO volunteers are assigned to help parents navigate the traffic configuration. Please be patient and follow the safety rules – NO CELL PHONE USE during arrival or dismissal per Tennessee State Law and the safety of our children.
Car Rider Drop Off Protocol
Cars will enter the loop from Otter Creek. Cars should stay in the left (outside) lane and drive up to the fire hydrant by the retaining wall. Once stopped, car riders will exit on the passenger side of the vehicle and go immediately to the sidewalk. Cars will proceed through the loop and exit by turning left on Priest Road. Right turns on Priest Road are not permitted at during drop off.
Car Rider Pick Up Protocol
Cars will enter the loop from Otter Creek in two lanes. Please stop at the closed gate. Once the gate has opened, cars will pull up in two lanes stopping at the fire hydrant by the retaining wall. Please put your car in park and wait for students to be dismissed to your car. You will be able to exit your car at this point to let your child know where you are in line. Teachers and staff will then dismiss children to cars by turning a STOP sign to GO or SLOW. Once loaded and signaled to move, cars will continue around the loop and exit to Priest Road. The left lane MUST TURN LEFT onto Priest Road. The right lane MUST TURN RIGHT onto Priest Road.
Tiger Club
Tiger Club Drop Off Protocol
Tiger Club students will enter from the front loop on Priest Road by Wilshire Road. Cars will park in designated area near the marquee and across from the marquee. Parents and caretakers will walk their student into the cafeteria and sign in with a Tiger Club staff member. Cars will then exit back out onto Priest Road and turn right. Tiger Club students must be dropped off no later than 7:30am.
Tiger Club Pick Up Protocol
Tiger Club students will go to their designated area in the building for Tiger Club dismissal. Tiger Club dismissal will be from the cafeteria. Tiger Club staff will send out additional information and procedures for pick up.
Events
These dates and events are subject to change. Please see the PPE PTO Calendar for dates and times of all events. The MNPS District Calendar is available here.
Before School Begins
Kindergarten Readiness Camp:
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A “sneak-a-peak” at a kindergarten day with two PPE kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Dick and Mrs. Patterson. Children will be immersed in readiness activities through children’s literature, songs, and games. Kids will tour the school, playground, and kindergarten classrooms. Register here!
All School Sneak-a-Peek and Popsicle Party:
Snap a picture with our school mascot, Percy the Tiger, then head on to your child’s classroom to meet their teacher. Feel free to bring your school supplies and if you ordered from 1st Day School Supplies, your order will already be in your child’s classroom. Meet back up at the front entrance to enjoy popsicles while socializing with other PPE families. The PTO will be there to handout Pre-K and Kindergarten orange totes and the Roar Store will be open so you can stock up on PPE gear.
Fall and Winter Events
Open House
Invest Fundraiser
Fall Community Event at PPE
Tiger Cup Golf Tournament Fundraiser
Percy’s Vintage Closet
Songwriters’ Night
Walk to School Day
Prospective Family Open House
Trunk or Treat
Kindergarten Harvest Carnival
Class Harvest Parties
Book Fair
GrandFriends Day
Science Night
Fine Arts Night
Kindergarten Gingerbread Party
Spring Events
100th Day of School
Teacher Appreciation Week
Used Book Sale
Talent Show
Valentine’s Day Party
Read-A-Thon
Percy’s Readying Party
Spring Auction
Field Day
Spring Event Community Event/Tiger Dash
5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Policies
2025-2026 Student-Parent Handbook
The MNPS Student-Parent Handbook, found online, has important information for you and your student to review. The Student-Parent Handbook is easy to access, search and bookmark to review later. It is designed to be a reference guide you and your student can use as the school year progresses. The Student-Parent Handbook includes several forms that require parent/guardian review and response. Review and submit these forms online at permissions.mnps.org.
Inclement Weather
Occasionally, weather conditions will cause schools to open late, dismiss early, or close altogether. If we are experiencing or expecting severe weather, please monitor the MNPS Website, our social media channels, or our local television and/or radio stations for the latest school closing information. Please do NOT call your school or the Customer Service Center for this information. Please see the full policy on inclement weather from MNPS.
Attendance
Parents, guardians, and other persons with parental rights, with legal responsibility of any child or children between the ages of six (6) and seventeen (17) years, both inclusive, shall be responsible for their attendance in a public or non-public school. In the event of failure to do so, the parents, guardian, or other persons will be subject to the penalties provided in the Compulsory School Attendance Law.
Immunization Protocol
All students entering MNPS MUST present proof of immunization, physical examination from within the U.S. and record of birth prior to admission. State law (T.C.A. 49-6-5002) requires schools through 12th grade to accept only an Official Certificate of Immunization provided by the Department of Health, completed and signed by a physician or health care provider administering immunizations, as proof of immunization for enrollment purposes. Certificates printed from the Tennessee State Immunization Registry do not require a signature, but should be accepted as well.
All grade level students should be up to date with their immunizations requirements before returning to school. For more information regarding grade level requirements, please refer to our MNPS policy Entrance Requirements SP 6.132.
Immunizations are available through the Metro Public Health Department at the Lentz, East and Woodbine Clinic locations. The clinics are open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for walk-in vaccinations. Appointments are necessary and families should carry their child’s shot record to confirm what immunizations are needed.
Health History and When to Stay Home
Sometimes it is hard to know when to keep your child home from school and when to send them. Use the form here to help make an educated decision for your family and other students at school.
View the student health history form
Flu & Meningitis Sheets
Per state law T.C.A. § 49-6-5005, information on both flu and meningitis must be
distributed to all students at the start of every school year.
T.C.A. § 49-6-5005. Information about Meningitis and Influenza and the Effectiveness of
Vaccination (a) LEAs shall ensure that schools provide parents and guardians with information
about meningococcal disease and the effectiveness of vaccination against meningococcal
disease at the beginning of every school year. This information shall include the causes,
symptoms and means by which meningococcal disease is spread and the places where parents
and guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. Nothing in
this subsection (a) shall be construed to require an LEA or school to provide or purchase
vaccine against meningococcal disease. (b) LEAs shall ensure that schools provide parents and
guardians with information about influenza disease and the effectiveness of vaccination against
influenza at the beginning of every school year. This information must include the causes,
symptoms, and means by which influenza is spread and the places where parents and
guardians may obtain additional information and vaccinations for their children. Nothing in this
subsection (b) requires an LEA or school to provide or purchase vaccine against influenza. The
department of education, in consultation with the department of health, shall provide information
to LEAs to assist in the implementation of this subsection (b).0