W. H.

Oliver Middle School Parent Handbook 2007-08

Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

6211 Nolensville Rd Nashville, TN 37211 (615) 332-3011 (615) 332-3019 (Fax)

Karen Allen Lefkovitz, Principal Lesley Jones, Assistant Principal

Oliver Middle School 2007-08

Welcome to W. H. Oliver Middle School, where character development and citizenship is every bit as much a priority as learning to read and write. William Henry Oliver was a teacher, principal, and superintendent in the Nashville City Schools. He was known for instilling citizenship in his students and promoting excellence in academics and community service. Please plan to be an active participant in your child's education. You are always welcome to visit and volunteer. The following information will assist you and your child in getting off to a great start. WE ARE GLAD YOU CHOSE US! Security and Safety The exterior doors to our school building will remain locked throughout the school day. Visitors will be expected to use the front door closest to the office to enter and exit the building. (When you ring the bell, pull on the door, IT WILL NOT CLICK.) All visitors to the school must first report to the office. For the safety of all school personnel (students, parent volunteers, visitors, and staff), we require all visitors to sign in and out and wear a badge while on campus. The badge should be visible at all times. This includes such visits as a quick trip to the classroom to deliver a forgotten lunch, etc. Teachers will ask you to go to the office and sign in if you report to their rooms before going to the office. This procedure is in effect before school as well as during the school day. We have plans in place for weather emergencies such as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. We also have plans in case of fire and special situations involving dangerous persons on campus. Regular drills are held to familiarize the students with the procedures of each plan. We invite your participation and comments for improving the safety and security of our school. Arrival and Dismissal Procedures We open our doors to students and parents at 8:30 a.m. each morning. We request that you wait until this time to leave your child at school. Safety is a serious concern for children left at school before 8:30 a.m. The supervising adults do not report to their stations until 8:30. Although teachers and staff may report to school prior to 8:30 a.m., please respect this time as it is often used to prepare for the instructional day. If you must leave your child prior to 8:30 am, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of our Fun Company Before and After School Program.

When arriving at Shayne and Oliver, it is important to observe the one-way traffic in the driveway and follow the signals of the school staff in charge of supervision. Please do not pull into the bus loading area closest to the building at Shayne and closest to the gymnasium at Oliver. This is unsafe and stops the flow of traffic. Bring your vehicle through the parking lot located between the two school buildings and follow the directions of the supervising teachers in the drive. Please let your child out near the cafeteria entrance of the building where supervision is provided between 8:30 and 8:45 am. We require children to exit their vehicles at this entrance only. When your car comes to a stop in front of the school, children should exit at that point. If you need to accompany your child to class you are certainly welcome to do so however, we would like to encourage students to walk to their classrooms independently whenever possible. This gives them the opportunity to be responsible and to gain self-confidence. They will be supervised going to their rooms. Dismissal will begin at 3:45. All cars must come in behind the school buses. If you park in the lot between the two schools, be advised we will not allow children to cross traffic to get into your car. You may get out of your car, walk across the traffic and escort your child to your car, but do not motion for your child to come to your car. Always observe the traffic pattern in the driveway. We ask your patience and cooperation with afternoon dismissals as the traffic is congested during this time. It is important that you follow the direction of the school personnel assisting with afternoon dismissal. We are fully aware of the problems with the dismissal procedure, but to ensure safety of all children, we must dismiss following these procedures. Please do not be disrespectful to the staff directing the afternoon dismissal; they are only doing their job. If you have any concerns, please contact Mrs. Lefkovitz or Ms. Jones. If you arrive to pick your child up later than 4:00, you must come to the school office to sign them out. Please make every effort to pick them up by 4:00. Your children will be placed under the supervision of the YMCA Fun Company, at your expense, if not picked up by 4:30. Office staff is no longer on duty after that time each day. We are pleased to offer before or after-school care on site. If you need before or after-school child care, you may contact Tamyton McGirt of the YMCA to enroll in the Fun Company Before and After Care program on site, his number is 259-3418 Arriving Late or Leaving Early It is important that all students arrive at school in time to get to class by 8:45. If your child is late, he/she will miss the wonderful beginning of the school day.
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Students arriving after 8:45 must report to the office. The parent or person bringing the student to school must escort them to the office and sign them in so that a tardy slip can be issued and attendance documented. Your child will be sent to the In-School Suspension until the end of the 1st period so not to disrupt instruction in the classroom if they arrive after 9:00 a.m.. It is equally important that children remain the full day until dismissal so that they get to participate in the many learning activities prepared for them Any request to dismiss your child early on a regular basis should be discussed with and approved by the principal. If your child needs to leave early for a doctors appointment, etc., you must first come to the office, sign him/her out, and wait in the office while your child is summoned by the office staff. We ask that you not go to the classroom to get the child since the teacher is busy with all of the children at that time. Snow Day Dismissal When school is closed prior to the start of the school day or if it is necessary to dismiss school early due to snow, it will be announced on the radio and television stations. Please tune in for announcements when snow is forecast. You may also visit the district website at www.mnps.org for this information. It will be listed on the home page. Our new telephone call out system will also contact you to notify you of the early closing of schools due to inclement weather. If the forecast is calling for severe winter weather, plan ahead! If you work a long way from school it would be advisable to arrange in advance for a friend or relative that lives close to the school, to pick up your child. This could save you many anxious moments trying to rush to school to pick up your child. If you try to contact the school you will most likely have difficulty in these circumstances. Phone systems have often proven to be unable to manage the large volume of calls we receive during severe weather emergencies. Please accept our apologies in advance! Attendance - Absences Attendance at school is important. Students need to be in class every day in order to take advantage of the many learning opportunities provided. If a child misses for excused reasons, he/she may make up any missed work. In order for an absence to be excused a note must be sent to the teacher from the parent describing the reason for the absence. Excused absences approved by the Board of Education are: illness of child, illness in the family, death in the family, and religious holidays as prescribed by the Board. If a child has 5 or more unexcused absences, parents will be referred to our attendance worker for an attendance
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review. If the absences continue and remain unexcused, action may be taken by juvenile court. PARENTS PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEND A NOTE TO THE TEACHER WITH A REASON FOR THE ABSENCE EACH TIME YOUR CHILD RETURNS TO SCHOOL AFTER MISSING AN INSTRUCTIONAL DAY! Sick Children - Contagious Illness - Head Lice When your child is too sick to stay in class, he/she will be better off at home. If your child is sick or has a high temperature in the morning, please keep him/her at home for the day. We want children to be at school everyday except when they are too sick to participate in school activities. Please be protective of your child and other children by not sending them to school if he/she exhibits any of the following signs of illness: Fever: Diarrhea: Vomiting: Rash: Temperature above 100 degrees (taken by mouth) Any watery stools not contained in under clothes Throwing up Covering entire body

Any child with the above-mentioned symptoms must be kept at home a full 24 hours without symptoms before returning to school. Any child with a contagious illness such as pink eye, strep, impetigo, ringworm, or head lice infestation, must also be kept out of school until the infectious period is over. These conditions require a statement from a doctor stating that the child is not contagious and may return to school (In case of head lice, students must have a note from a doctor or health department stating that they have been treated and are free of lice and nits). These are School Board and Health Department policies. Medications All children who take prescription or over-the-counter medications at school must have a form completed and signed by a doctor and/or parent prior to the child taking the medication. Forms will be sent home for this purpose. School Board policy states that parents bear total responsibility for any medications taken by children at school. Medications will be kept in a secure location. If you have any concerns regarding medications or any medical conditions, please discuss them with your child's teacher. Bus Transportation

Bus transportation is offered as a service to families that live 1 miles from school. The transportation department determines bus stops and assigns students to certain routes based on where they live. Children are to ride their assigned bus. If you have a question about your childs stop or bus route, please contact the transportation department at 782-3870. If you would like your child to ride a bus other than his/her regular one, this must requested in writing and approved in advance by the driver. At this time, all students zoned to Oliver and Shayne are transported by bus even if they reside within the 1 mile Parental Responsibility Zone (PRZ). This is subject to change. Students riding the bus must obey the bus rules. A copy of the bus rules will be sent home by the department of transportation for you to read and sign. Please go over these with your child. You will also receive a copy of the bus discipline policy. Children may be assigned seats on the bus by the driver, if the driver feels it is necessary to insure the safety of the students. Remember, riding a bus is a privilege. This privilege can be revoked if the student presents an unsafe situation on the bus, as determined by the driver and school administration. If you have any questions about bus transportation, you may access information from the district web-site at www.mnps.org or you may call 259INFO. Changing Student's Transportation Home It is important that all children know how they are going to get home when school is dismissed. Please make certain that your child knows how he/she will get home before leaving for school in the morning. This creates a much more secure feeling in your children and assists the school staff in seeing that your child is in the proper place for dismissal. Anytime your child changes transportation home, you need to send a note to the teacher or the office first thing in the morning. This is for your child's safety and will assist the staff in getting your child home without incident. On occasion families may be faced with emergency situations and need to make changes in their childs transportation. Please take care of this early in the day. Notifying students late of transportation changes is alarming and often confusing to the child. Changes in transportation should not be made after 2:00 p.m. except in cases of extreme emergency. If your child is to travel home with another student or ride a different school bus, parents of both children must write a note. The principal must
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sign both notes before the child will be allowed to ride the bus. THIS MUST BE DONE UPON ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. Curriculum The curriculum at Oliver Middle School is prescribed by the School Board. We have a standards based curriculum developed by the district. In the fall of 2001 a team of teachers and administrators worked together to address the issue of defining what we wanted for our graduates in each of the content areas. They looked at what we had done in the past that was successful and at what business and other experts say is critical for success. With this information in hand, the question was then asked, what does each student need to know and be able to do in Grade 12, in Grade 11, 10, 9 and so on back through Kindergarten for them to reach the graduate targets? Since Communication skills are essential for success and cross over all academic subject areas, the team started with reading and writing. In June of 2002 the reading and writing standards were developed and in 2003 the math and science standards were completed. In the 2004-05 school year, the standards were implemented for Social Studies, Listening and Speaking. Standards have now been written and implemented for Visual and Performing Arts, Music, Technology, Physical Education, Lifetime Wellness, and English Language Learners (ELL). Our graduate and grade level standards are challenging but we believe that they are essential for our students success. A complete listing of the standards may be accessed through the Metropolitan Nashville Public School website at www.mnps.org. Related Arts Classes: Art, Music, Computer, and Physical Education These classes are required for all students and are an important part of your childs educational experience. These classes provide wonderful learning opportunities and enrich the lives of each student. Each student is now required to have 90 minutes of physical activity per week, so every child at Oliver Middle will participate in PE throughout the year on a rotating basis with Art and Computer, or Band. Physical education classes are generally held outside except in rainy weather or when the combination of temperature and wind chill is near 20 degrees. Please see that your child dresses appropriately, with appropriate shoes for outside activities. Your child will be required to dress out for PE classes. PE uniforms are available for purchase from our PE department for $15. This uniform can be worn from year to year. A warm coat, gloves or mittens, stocking cap or other head covering is necessary on cold days. A request to miss physical education requires a note from the parent stating the
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reason, and an alternative assignment related to Physical Education will be given. If a child misses more than three consecutive days from physical education class, a note signed by the doctor is required. Report Cards A report home to parents describing student progress is sent in the form of a report card at the end of each nine weeks grading period. Parents are expected to review the report with their child, and retain the copy for your records. It is not necessary to return it to school as we have copies on file. If you have questions or concerns about the report home you may contact your childs teacher or the building principal. We are eager to assist you in gaining an understanding of how to support your child through the educational process. Our goal is to see Oliver Middle School students setting the standard for academic achievement in this district and for this state. We need parental support and involvement in order for this goal to be realized. You will also receive mid-9 weeks progress reports to inform you of your childs progress. Report Card and Progress Report Dates for 2007-08 September 17, 200 October 11, 2007 October 22, 2007 November 16, 200 December 21, 2007 January 14, 2008 February 11, 2008 March 14, 2008 March 31, 2008 April 29, 2008 May 22, 2008 May 26-30, 2008 1st Progress Report End 1st 9 weeks 1st Report Card 2nd Progress Report End 2nd 9 Weeks 2nd Report Card (mailed home) 3rd Progress Report End 3rd 9 weeks 3rd Report Card 4th Progress Report End 4th 9 Weeks Final Report Cards (mailed home)

If you do not receive a report card from your student on the dates listed above, please contact guidance or the office and we will print another one for you. Cumulative Records for Students Parents and guardians are hereby notified that each student has a cumulative folder or permanent record on file at the school. It contains personal and educational information on the history of the student in school (grades, standardized test scores, attendance records, etc.).
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DISCIPLINE RECORDS ARE NOT CONTAINED IN THE STUDENTS CUMULATIVE FILE. If you desire to see or discuss this information, please call the principal to make an appointment. The school may not release information to third parties without an interest except in non-personally identifiable form. Records are reviewed each year for accuracy. No information is expunged. Parents have the right to challenge any information in the records in their conference with the principal. Copies can be made available to the parents at the parents expense. All information in the record is considered confidential. Students Withdrawing or Transferring from Oliver Middle School Parents and guardians are hereby notified that if your child transfers from Oliver at any time during the year, the record will be transferred to the new school upon request from the new school. You will need to withdraw your child from Oliver Middle School and we will give you the appropriate information that will be needed to enroll your child in the new school. If parents desire copies of the record or wish to challenge any part of the record, they should see the building principal at the time of the transfer. Conferences You will receive specific information about parent-teacher conferences at a later date. As stated previously, we welcome time to talk with you about your concerns. If you want a conference with your child's teacher, you may call the teacher and leave a message. The teacher will return your call during their planning time to schedule the conference. Please refrain from attempting to have a conference with your childs teacher during arrival or dismissal. The teacher needs to give that time to all students. The teacher will be glad to schedule a mutually acceptable time for a conference. If you have a concern about a classroom issue, before you contact the administration, we request that you meet with the teacher first. In most instances, you will work out any problems with the teacher and not need to consult the school office. However, if you do not get matters resolved at that level, you are encouraged to discuss the issues with the principal. Contact the school office to set up an appointment. Every effort will be made to reach a satisfactory solution. In the same manner, we encourage you to discuss your concerns at the school level prior to contacting central office administration personnel. Class Changes and Dismissal

Bells are used for class dismissal. A student is considered tardy after five minutes between classes. The student is tardy if they are not in the room when the bell stops ringing. A student must have a Hall Pass or note from a teacher to be in the hallway during classes. The note must be written in ink designating the time, date, and place the student wishes to go. A permission note is needed to use office phone during school hours. There will be phones in the individual classrooms. Book Bags and Large Coats Student book bags and large coats are not to be present in the classrooms. Rolling back packs do not fit in the lockers and the students cannot have these present with them in the classroom. We will make arrangements for these if your child has one. Flagrantly oversized clothing is not to be worn. These items can conceal weapons. Purses brought into the classrooms are subject to search. Book bags are not to be stored in the hallways nor brought into the locker rooms. Large book size purses should be left in lockers. Wallets with chains attached are not permitted. Please follow the guidelines in the Standard School Attire Policy for all Metro students in grades Pre-K -12 listed on the website, www.mnps.org. A copy of this will be sent home at the beginning of the school year. You may secure additional copies by calling the school office. Lockers Students should keep books, gym clothes, and personal items in locked lockers. Lockers are not to be shared. Lockers have built-in combination locks and are issued to the students at no charge. Lockers are property of the Metropolitan Schools and are subject to search at any time. Students dressing out for gym or participating in athletics are not to take valuables of any kind into the locker rooms unless they are locked in a locker. All students will be required to dress out for Physical Education classes. Behavior/Discipline Students are expected to conduct themselves in socially acceptable ways. This requires that they show respect for others and themselves. It is important that they treat others the way they want to be treated by others. We want to earn a reputation for good behavior in school and at

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all school related functions. It is expected that each student start each day with a positive attitude. You will receive a copy of your child's classroom discipline plan along with teacher expectations for student conduct. All bus riders will receive a list of bus rules and our discipline plan. We welcome your comments for improvement in all school discipline. It is important that you sit down with your child and read over all information relating to student conduct. The Board of Education has a zero tolerance policy regarding drugs, weapons and abusive or dangerous conduct. Violation of the rules will result in suspension and possible expulsion from school. You will receive a copy of the policy the first day your child attends class. The Board requires you to sign the accompanying form and return it the next day to document that you have read the information. Note: Please read carefully the section on knives and other weapons. This policy is strictly enforced for the safety of all students and staff. We do ask however, that you and your child sign the form on the back page of the plan and return that form to school. This ensures us that families have reviewed the information. Electronic Devices Our school does not allow the following during school hours: Radios, tape players, CD players, beepers, laser lights, or cameras. This also includes, but is not limited to such devices as a PSP or Ipod. Students who carry cell phones must keep them concealed and turned off during school hours. They can be taken from the student if they are not carried according the Cell Phone Policy for Students approved by the Board. The teacher will immediately take up any items used by the students that disturbs or distracts the class. These will be returned to the student or parent at an appropriate time and once a personal or telephone conference has been held. Faculty Lounges Students are not permitted to come into faculty lounges for any reason. Students are not permitted in the teachers workroom unless under visible teacher supervision. ID Badges All students in grades 5-8 in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools are required to have a photo ID badge on their person at all times during
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school hours and at all school related functions. It must be presented to any faculty or staff member upon request. The ID badge is required for library checkout, as well as admission to athletic or other school related events. Procedure for Replacing ID Badges The replacement cost for an ID Badge and lanyard is $6. If they only need a badge, it is $5, and the lanyard is $1. The student should bring the money to their 1st period teacher, they will turn it in to the office with the students name, and we will reprint the badge. It will be placed in the 1st period teachers mailbox. Please allow 24 hour turnaround time. They will not need to have another picture made. Student Identification Guidelines The following guidelines apply to students in grades 5-12: 1. Students must have an ID badge on their person at all times while on school grounds during the school day. Students who do not have an ID badge may be denied admission to school events. 2. Students must present their ID badge to a school official upon request. 3. Students who display their ID badges during school hours may be eligible for random incentives at school discretion. 4. Students who repeatedly fail to have ID badges will be subject to more severe sanctions/consequences. 5. ID badges are not hall passes. However, a student may be required to show their ID in addition to the schools hall pass policies. 6. Schools may require ID badges to be used to access school programs such as library, food service, and other functions as technology-based applications increase. 7. Replacement fee for a lost or damaged ID badge will be $5. Each time the child does not have the ID Badge on; they will be given the opportunity to put it on. If they leave it at home, they can call home to
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get someone to bring it to them without penalty. Parents are asked to support this initiative by helping to ensure that their child has the ID badge every day. Dress Students are expected to dress appropriately for school. Metro Schools has adopted a Standard School Attire for all students in grades PreK-12. A copy of the Standard School Attire Policy for Students in Grades Pre-K-12 will be included in the first day packet of information. You may also view this policy on our website at www.mnps.org. If a student is deemed to be dressed inappropriately, you will be called to get your child for a change of clothes. Students need to dress in warm clothing in cold months since they will have outside physical education classes. The additional shirt colors accepted at Oliver Middle, other than the white and navy allowed by the district are red, purple, black, and royal blue. All students are to abide by the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Standard School Attire Policy for students in Grades Pre K-12. Teachers have full authority at all times and at all places on this campus to correct students whether the students are in their classrooms or not. Sale of Candy or Food Items during School Hours Nothing is to be sold during the school day by any member of the faculty or student body that is in competition with the cafeteria. No food or drink, including chewing gum should be eaten in the classrooms except during specified breakfast and lunch times. We are in a new building and we want to work to keep the building in excellent condition. School Supplies/Textbooks All textbooks are provided free for students. Your child's teacher will inform you of the materials and workbooks that you will need to purchase. If you need assistance in obtaining school supplies, please contact the office. If a textbook is lost, all efforts will be made to locate the textbook, however it is the responsibility of the student to return the book to the school at the end of the year in good condition or pay for the textbook. New this year, all textbooks are barcoded for inventory and easy identification. More information will follow as it becomes available. Fee Waivers

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Any child who qualifies for a free or reduced lunch may receive free school supplies and field trips. Fees for supplies and field trips will not be waived automatically. Lunchroom - Meals Breakfast and lunch will be served at school. Breakfast will be served each morning from 8:30 until 8:45 a.m. Children may bring a lunch from home or buy a lunch at school. Financial assistance is available to children whose parents meet federal and system guidelines. Lunch will be served according to the school schedule. Your childs teacher will inform you of the time the class goes to lunch. Payment for breakfast is cash only. Payment for lunch or extra milk may be made in cash. Lunchroom - Meal Charges If your child does not have a ticket or money, he/she may not charge lunch. If he/she does not have a lunch or lunch money, he/she will be given a sandwich for that day unless you come to school to bring money or lunch. WE WILL NOT REFUSE TO FEED YOUR CHILD FOR ANY REASON. Money Collections Children may be asked to bring money to school for many items and activities. This includes money for lunches, purchases in the bookstore, classroom book collections, field trips, PTA fund-raisers, etc. These collections are nearly always optional. Please put the money or check in an envelope with your child's name and the teacher's name on the outside. Returned Checks All checks returned by your bank to the school will require a $15.00 fee plus cash redemption of the check. This includes checks for school supplies, meals, field trips, special book club purchases, etc. It is important that you take care of redeeming any returned checks in a timely manner. School Office The school office is here to serve the entire school community, including parents. We are glad to see you, talk with you, and respond to your concerns. However, we request that you schedule all business with the principal. Please call the office for an appointment. We will return your call as soon as possible. Handling all office business through appointments will expedite matters and allow us to serve you better. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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School Phones Students may use the office phones to call parents or other family members with permission from their teachers. A student will be required to use the phone to call parents when he/she does not have lunch money or a lunch. Please limit requests for your child to call home. Teachers do have phones in their classrooms, but they will not ring during the school day. The call from an outside line will go directly to the teachers voice mail. It is the teachers choice to let the student use that phone. Students will not be permitted to use the phone to make arrangements to go home with another child (except in emergencies). Teachers require interruption-free time for instruction in order to best serve our students. Therefore, we will not call teachers from their rooms to talk to parents or others except in emergencies. We request that you not call teachers on their phones during class time unless you are satisfied to leave a voice mail message. See the teacher for the times when you can call. Giving out the home phone or a personal cell phone is optional with the teacher. Parent Groups It is our hope that Oliver Middle School will form a very rich base of volunteers. Parents, extended family and community members along with friends of Oliver Middle School students are welcomed to help in many ways. As parents, I would like to encourage you to become involved in our school community. Membership and participation in the Oliver Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A.) would be a wonderful way for you as a parent to contribute positively to your childs school experience. As a school community, we welcome you and hope that you will join and actively participate in the Oliver Middle School P.T.A.

1. Request for alternate format To request this information in an alternate format, please contact your building principal or department head. (Karen Lefkovitz, Principal 332-3011)

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PARENT HANDBOOK LETTER

W. H. Oliver Middle School 2007-08

Dear Parent, Please take the time to read the Parent Handbook. After you have read it, we request that you complete the statement below. We want your input on the information included, other information that you would like to have sent home, etc. After giving us your feedback, please sign the statement below and return it to school the next day. Thank you for your cooperation. As we work together to improve learning for your child, we will be working to insure the success of all children. Please visit the school and stay in contact with your childs teacher. You are encouraged to be an active participant at Oliver Middle School.

I have read the Parent Handbook. I have listed the following suggestions for improving the Parent Handbook.

I would like to have the following information sent home to me.

___________________________________ Parent Signature

_________________________ Date

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