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Parent Handbook for
Happy Valley School
Part 1
Absence Reporting
Arizona Law Concerning Student Absences: ARS § 15-807
states under,
Absence from School Notification by Parent or Person Having Custody of Pupil:
immunity:"
In case of absence from school, the parent/guardian is required to notify the school attendance personnel in advance of or at the time of the absence.
The parent/guardian is required to furnish the school with at least one telephone number, if available, where the parent/guardian may be contacted during the school day. If there is a change of telephone numbers during the school year, the parent/guardian is to promptly notify the school office.
In case a student is absent from school and the parent/guardian has not notified the school, school attendance personnel will make a reasonable effort to notify the parent/guardian.
A school district, governing board members of a school district and employees or agents of a school district are not liable for failure to notify the parent or other person who has custody of a pupil of the pupil’s absence from school.
Please call the school in advance or by 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the absence. Voice messaging is available before and after office hours. Please identify yourself, your student, your student's teacher and the date/time and reason for the absence. Likewise, please call the school office in advance if you child needs to be picked up early from school. Attendance is taken twice daily--at the beginning of the day and again in the afternoon.
Happy Valley School is responsible for reporting all absences and tardies to the Department of Education. Excused absences/tardies are: illness, doctor appointments and emergencies.
Attendance
Students earn special
awards each year for consistently attending school and being on time. A
medallion is awarded for Perfect Attendance—no days missed and no more than two
days tardy or time missed due to early pick up. Outstanding Attendance
Certificates are awarded for no more than two absences and no more than four
days tardy or early pick up. Awards are for actual attendance. Absences and
tardies count whether excused or unexcused. Cumulative late arrival and early
pick up times could add up to one or more full days.
It is important that parents and students recognize the direct relationship between regular school attendance and academic success. When students are absent, the benefit of lectures, discussions and class participation is lost forever, and additional stress is placed upon the student who must catch up and teachers who work diligently to insure that all students are learning the required material. Habitual tardiness and absenteeism are undesirable habits that children learn early and practice for a lifetime.
Arizona law requires students to attend at least 95% of the required 180 instructional days each year. In cases of excessive student absenteeism or tardiness, parents will be contacted by the Truant Officer and may be issued citations as outlined in ARS § 15-802 and ARS § 15-803. Citations require a court appearance and may result in fines and court costs. Also, students who are absent for more than 18 days (10% of the required instructional days) are in danger of being retained the next year in the same curriculum level. Although students should be absent or late only when necessary, students who are ill should not come to school, especially if their illness in contagious. See the Nurse's page.
Bicycles
If students ride personal
transportation such as bicycles, skateboards, skates or scooters to school,
parents and students must assume responsibility for all risks involved.
For safety, we recommend against younger students riding bikes or other personal
transportation to and from school unless they are accompanied by an adult.
For safety reasons, students must walk their bicycles or scooters: onto school property when they arrive; off the campus as they leave; and, at all times while on school grounds. Immediately after students arrive, bicycles or scooters are to be parked and locked in the bicycle area. Skateboards must be carried, not ridden, to the bicycle area and secured. Skates must be removed and stored or rollers removed from skate shoes and stored. No personal, individual transportation or recreational equipment may be stored inside school buildings or used on campus at any time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Happy Valley School is private property.
The school does not furnish locks nor assume responsibility for the security of bicycles, scooters, skateboards or other personal equipment. The bike pen is not locked after school or on weekends. Personal equipment should not be left in that area after school hours.
Birthdays and School Parties
Students are recognized by their
teachers in the classroom on their birthdays, but we do not hold classroom
birthday parties. Individually packaged treats may be distributed to students
only at a time designated by the classroom teacher. In accordance with health regulations,
all food items must be purchased from a commercial establishment rather than
being prepared, packaged or wrapped at home. It is not possible to cut and
serve cake, scoop ice cream, pour drinks or distribute treats that require extra
time and preparation. We cannot supply plates, napkins, cups or eating
utensils for parties.
We encourage lunchtime or at-home celebrations since class time cannot be used for parties, and balloons or other decorations distract from the learning environment in the classroom. Additionally, latex balloons, fresh flowers and other items may trigger allergy or asthma attacks in some students. Celebrations at lunch may not disrupt the regular lunch schedule.
The distribution of birthday and other private party invitations or announcements is not the responsibility of the school, nor can school time be used for distributing invitations. Teachers may help by discreetly putting invitations into student’s folders, but they are not permitted to give out class lists, addresses or telephone numbers of students or other parents. Teachers are not responsible for insuring that invitations get home with students.
School parties are limited to Winter Holiday, Valentines, and End-of-Year. The teacher and Parent Team welcome parent help and participation in those events.
Bus Rules
Happy Valley
School provides transportation to and from school along specified bus routes.
Buses are operated in accordance with state and federal safety regulations.
Parents and students sign an agreement regarding bus policies and acceptable
behavior on the bus. See Appendix B of
this Handbook for Bus Rules and bus Safety Tips.
Campus Environment/Public Order
Arizona Law (ARS 13-2911) requires the governing board of all
publicly funded schools to adopt rules for the maintenance of public order on
school campuses, and to provide a program for the enforcement of its rules.
“This law may be enforced by any peace officer in the State of Arizona wherever
or whenever a violation occurs.” Violation of this law constitutes a Class 1
misdemeanor or a Class 6 felony, depending on the violation. A copy of the law
is included in
Appendix A.
¨ They may order anyone whom they consider to be interfering with or disrupting the order and reasonable peacefulness of the educational environment at Happy Valley School to leave the property immediately.
¨ Law enforcement officers will be called if anyone threatens the safety or peaceful operation of the school or refuses to leave the property when so ordered.
E-mail/Correspondence Warning: E-mail, electronic messages, written or other documents sent to or from the School, Governing Board Members, Administrators or any Happy Valley employee are generally considered a public record and released upon appropriate request pursuant to the Arizona Public Records Law. Such records may be used in a court of law.
Refusing to abide by the policies of
Happy Valley School that relate to: student safety; building, classroom,
playground and campus security; the emotional peace and security of students,
staff and parents; and, the educational environment in the classroom.
Threatening to cause physical injury
to any employee or person attending Happy Valley.
Threatening to cause damage to the
school, any of its property, the property of any employee, or the property of
any person attending Happy Valley.
Knowingly going on or remaining on
the property of the school for the purpose of interfering with or disruption
of the lawful use of the property or, in any manner, deny or interfere with
the lawful use of the property by others.
Knowingly refusing to obey a lawful
order given by a designated representative of Happy Valley School.
To constitute a violation of this
section, the acts that are prohibited are not required to be directed at a
specific individual, specifically at Happy Valley School or any specific
property of the school.
Interference includes off-campus threats or actions, and apply to the described persons and property outside of school hours.
Carpool
Happy Valley does not set up
carpools or provide transportation to or from school other than busing. Parents
may fill out a form and add it to the file containing information about others
who are interested in forming a carpool. Happy Valley School does not update
the list, verify information, nor make arrangements or telephone calls to help
set up carpools. Happy Valley School does not endorse anyone on the list or in
any way guarantee the driving record or personal responsibility of those who
have completed carpool sheets. We cannot assume responsibility for the
character and behavior of those on the carpool list, even though you may have
met them through the school. Due to parent requests, we will provide forms,
keep the file in the office and make it available to anyone who asks for the
information.
Cell Phones
Cell phones and paging devices are
inappropriate for student use at school since they create a disruption in the
learning environment. Cell phones cause a distraction if they ring or vibrate
in class. Students may not talk on phones during class nor use the photo, game
or text messaging functions. Cell phones that cause a distraction will be taken
to the office where parents may retrieve them. Students should not keep phones
on their person or in their backpacks or desks at school, since we cannot be
responsible for breakage or loss. The cell phone policy also applies on the bus
and on the playground. If parents feel there is a reason that their child
needs a cell phone, they should contact the office.
Change of Address
It is vital that parents keep
addresses and all telephone numbers current so that the school may reach a
family member in case of emergencies. Notices that are mailed contain important
information that may have a deadline or may require immediate action. Please
report immediately, any: changes of address; changes of home, work and cell
phone numbers; and, any changes in emergency contact information (relatives or
friends you may have listed). The office has update forms, or the information
may be called in to the office.
Child Find
Under ARS § 300.125, all children with disabilities who are in need of special education and related
services are required to be identified, located, and evaluated.
A practical method shall be developed and implemented to determine which
children are currently receiving needed special education and related services.
This policy applies to highly mobile children with disabilities and children
that are suspect of having a disability under §300.7 and in need of special
education, even though they are advancing from grade to grade.
School procedures include at the minimum:
Documentation of the public
awareness efforts. This is doe to inform the public and parents within
its jurisdiction of the availability of special education services (ARS § 300.125, AAC R702-401).
Screening activities that are
implemented for all newly enrolled students and those transferring in without
sufficient records.
Screening activities that are done
within 45 days of enrollment.
Screenings that include consideration of academic or cognitive, vision, hearing, communication, emotional, and psychomotor domains (AAC R7-2-401).
The school maintains documentation and annually reports the number of children with disabilities. Reporting is done within each disability category that has been identified, located, and evaluated (§300.125)
Communicable Diseases
Communicable diseases constitute a
serious health threat to students, teachers and school families. Please refer
to the section entitled “Nurse” for important information.
Curriculum
Happy Valley offers a
“Back-to-Basics,” traditional program that is aligned with Arizona
State Standards and national content standards. We also participate in the
statewide testing program each year.
The curriculum includes phonics, spelling, reading, mathematics, penmanship, grammar and composition, science, Spanish, music, art, history and geography, technology (computers), health and safety, physical education, character training and citizenship.
Custody Issues
Parents must notify the school in
writing if there are custody issues or other considerations that affect
students, their oversight and management. The most current court documents
regarding divorce decrees, legal separation, restraining orders, custody rights,
adoptions and name changes must be kept in student files in order for school
personnel to honor requests regarding release of students or information.
School personnel may not physically restrain a anyone from visiting with or
picking up a student; however, written instructions from the custodial parent
should be on file in the office regarding the action desired on the part of
school (call 911, etc.) if such an attempt is made. School employees cannot
accept the responsibility of supervising visits in custody cases. Student’s
legal names must be used on all official, permanent records such as report
cards, enrollment files and state reports.