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Handbook

Handbook Essentials

Attendance

Arriving at school on time and staying through dismissal is expected and essential. Parents are asked to call the school attendance line (505) 291-6819 #2 to report an absence. To excuse an absence see procedures below. Students who are signed out before the end of the instructional day must have documentation of the reason (as defined under excused absences) or be subject to the same consequences as tardy. Be aware that any combination of 5 absences, tardies, and/or early dismissals in one semester is cause for concern. District Policy states that “excessive absences may result in a recommendation for retention and/or be reported to the Children’s Court Division of District Court. Studies show that students who have poor attendance in the elementary years are much more likely to drop out of high school later.

Absences will be recorded daily. The APS attendance tracking system automatically records all excused and unexcused absences. APS students are allowed no more than 5 unexcused absences per semester and no more than 10 unexcused absences per school year. On the fifth unexcused absence, you and your child will be required to attend a Mental Health meeting at the school to develop a plan to address attendance issues. The Counselor/Principal will organize and facilitate the meeting. If attendance remains an issue a referral will be made to the APS Attendance Office.

Teachers will be informed of calls concerning student absences.

The school should be notified by the parent or guardian of anticipated absences due to family emergencies and medical or agency appointments.

An unexcused absence is an absence that does not fit into the above guidelines for excused absences, is not school related or is not reported within two school days of the absence. The school will attempt to investigate unexplained absences through telephone contact or home visits with parents/guardians as soon as possible and advise them regarding the importance of regular school attendance and the legal implications involved. If a student misses over 50% or more of the school day, the absence will be recorded as a FULL DAY absence.

Dress Code

The APS Student Dress Code Policy is currently being reviewed by the School Board. Feedback from schools and community members will be collected. In June, 2022, the APS Board voted to give school communities the power to develop their own dress code. The following contains the previous dress code:

Parents’ good taste, weather, and PE program should govern the type of clothing worn to school by the students. Tennis shoes are required for PE; soles CANNOT be black.

“The Board of Education expects student dress and grooming to reflect high standards of personal conduct so that each student’s attire promotes a positive, safe, and healthy atmosphere within the school. Student dress may not present a health or safety hazard, violate municipal, state law, or present a potential for disruption to the instructional program. Attire or accessories, which advertise, display, or promote any drug, including alcohol or tobacco, sexual activity, violence, disrespect and/or bigotry towards any group are not acceptable. Unacceptable clothing and accessories include, but are not limited to, gang-related attire, excessively tight or revealing clothes, short shorts, bare midriff, low-cut and/or off the shoulder blouses, spiked jewelry, chains, belts with more than two inches

excess. “Sagging,” or the wearing of pants below the waist and/or in a manner that allows underwear or bare skin to show and “bagging,” or the wearing of excessively baggy pants with low hanging crotches is prohibited. As a matter of common courtesy and respect, hats/caps are not to be worn while inside buildings except when there is specific instructional, safety, religious or medical reasons. Schools may customize their individual dress codes to address their

needs and standards of their communities and neighborhoods through use of a process that ensures input from students, parents, faculty, and staff of the school and other interested community members. Students and their

parents/guardians have the responsibility to be aware of the school specific dress codes and to conform to those requirements. The responsibility to interpret and enforce the policy rests with each principal for his/her school.

  • NO midriff shirts are allowed. This means that no skin should be showing between the bottom of the shirt and the top of the pants/skirt at any time.
  • Sleeveless shirts must be at least two inches wide at their narrowest point on the shoulder (No “spaghetti” straps or halter tops).
  • Team jerseys (sleeveless with large arm holes) must always have a sleeved shirt underneath them (No tank tops or muscle shirts).
  • Excessively sagging pants or shorts are not allowed.
  • Excessively “baggy” clothing (including pants and/or shorts) are not allowed; Baggy means that the pant legs are wider than twice the width of the leg.
  • No chain spiked or sharp accessories are permitted.
  • No body piercing other than ear piercing should be visible (no tongue, eyebrow, nose piercing, etc.
  • Any item of clothing identified with a gang or gang behavior is not allowed.
  • Hats or other types of head gear may not be worn inside buildings on campus; Baseball hats must be worn with the bill facing forward.
  • Skirts should be no shorter than the point where extended fingers end when the student is standing up straight.

Drop-off/Pick-up Procedures

Parking Lot Safety

The parking lot is closed from 7:15 to 7:30 and from 1:30 until 1:50 due to traffic problems in our small parking lot. Please arrange to meet your child across the street or at the park (southwest corner of playground) if you are not driving through the parking lot to pick-up.

To ensure your child's safety, please advise them to cross with the crossing guard either in front of the school or at the corner of Chelwood and Brentwood Hills.

IMPORTANT: Parking in the fire lane, parking spaces for the handicapped, reserved parking spaces, bus loading zones, daycare van loading zone or along the west - 23 - fence area is strictly prohibited!!

At NO time should children be in the parking lot unless accompanied by an adult. Children and adults are asked to use the crosswalk. Please refrain from bringing your family pet to school to pick up your child. City Ordinance does not allow dogs on campus, even on a leash. Please assist in the smooth flow of traffic by following all safety rules and exercising patience and good judgment. The safety of our children is paramount.

Thank you for supporting our safety efforts and modeling cooperation and encouragement.