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Items that might disrupt class or cause injuries must be left at home. The School cannot be responsible for the breakage or loss of any of these items which include, but are not limited to, the following:
| Cameras/TVs/Radios | Money | Skates |
| Cell Phones/Beepers | Valuable Jewelry | Baseballs |
| Computers/Electronic Games | Trading Cards | Toys/Toy Weapons |
| CDs/Audio or Video Tapes | Playing Cards | Chewing Gum |
| CD or Tape Players/Recorders | Anything for sale | Squirt Guns |
| Magazines/Comic Books | Real Animals | Rubber Bands |
Items that may cause serious injury or create other serious problems will result in suspension or expulsion. Such items include, but are not limited to, the following:
| Weapons | Drugs or Drug Paraphernalia | Illegal Substances |
| Fireworks | Tobacco Products of Any Kind | Gang Related Items |
| Alcohol | “Adult” Oriented Material/Items | Explosives |
| Pornography | Items Related to Violence/Crime | Ammunition |
| Lighters/Matches | Dangerous Objects of Any Kind | Flammable Substances |
Please put your child’s first and last name on clothing and personal belongings that will be brought to school (lunch boxes, backpacks, coats, hats, etc.). There are many look-alike items and many students with the same first names. Names should go on the outside of lunch boxes (and anything other than clothing) for easy identification. Our Lost and Found is in the Cafeteria. Each grading quarter, we donate all unclaimed articles to a charitable group.
Students eat lunch in the cafeteria whether they bring a lunch from home or purchase hot lunch. Parents are always welcome to come and have lunch with their children. If you are bringing lunch for your student, be sure you know the time your child has lunch. All visitors must sign in at the office and get a visitor’s pass.
Hot lunch calendars are sent out monthly with a deadline date for ordering. Hot lunches must be ordered and paid in advance. A catering company delivers fresh food every day that meets or exceeds national nutritional requirements, and milk is served with hot lunch.
Students may order milk even though they do not order hot lunch, or they may order an additional milk to go with their lunch.
Hot lunch orders cannot be adjusted on a daily basis, and payment cannot be reimbursed if a student does not take the lunch that was ordered. Our caterer requires that we order a month in advance and does not refund payments we have made to their company, regardless of the reason the student did not take the lunch that was ordered, absences included.
Happy Valley participates in the National School Lunch Program and offers lunches free or at a reduced price. Free and reduced price lunch applications are sent out at the beginning of the school year and are also available in the office. Students on free or reduced lunch must fill out a lunch order with the days marked in order to receive hot lunch.
All lunch and milk orders must be paid by debit, credit, check or money order.
The current month's menu can be seen by clicking here.
¨ A nurse or health assistant is on duty during regular school hours. All medications must be checked in at the nurse’s office, be in the original container and have a form filled out with dosages and times for administration clearly stated.
¨ Students may not keep any medication with them at school, whether it is prescription or over-the-counter. The nurse will answer questions concerning laws about medications.
¨ We ask that all parents complete an Emergency Card for each of their children. Cards must be filled out completely on both sides. In addition to filling out the card, we ask that you tell your child’s teacher about any allergies or serious health issues or concerns.
¨ We want to do what is best for your children. If we cannot reach you in an emergency, we will call paramedics who may decide that an ambulance should be called. The cost of this service is the responsibility of parents.
¨ Children may not return to school until 24 hours have passed since: vomiting or having a fever of 100˚ or higher. Children must remain out of school for the recommended time period for specific illnesses, be on medication for the recommended period of time, and be free of symptoms before returning.
The school medication policies are:
¨ Parents must deliver to and pick up medication from school. Students may not bring in their own medications, keep any form of medication with them or self medicate.
¨ A medical consent form must be completed and signed by a parent/legal guardian in order for medications to be given at school.
¨ Medications must be in the original prescription container. A separate school container can be obtained from the pharmacy when ordered by the physician.
¨ If medical instructions change, a written order from the physician must be sent to the school nurse unless the medication is brought in a new prescription container from the pharmacy reflecting the changes.
¨ A student may carry an inhaler if the physician and parents sign a consent form.
¨ The school may dispense non-prescription medication on a one-time basis only with the verbal consent of the parent/guardian. After the initial dose, a medication consent form must be signed by the parent/guardian and the non-prescription medication must be brought to school in its original container by an adult. The medication will be locked in the nurse’s cabinet with the student’s name on it and dispensed by the nurse or health aide, as needed. Non-prescription medication includes cough drops.
¨ The school reserves the right to refuse to give any medication.
¨ All medications, prescription or non-prescription, will be destroyed one week after the last day of school if not picked up by the parent/legal guardian.
Students who need to have their physical education activities excused or limited must have a written note from their parent School staff may call to verify parental permission.
Happy Valley School does not schedule formal Parent-Teacher Conferences; however, parents or teachers may arrange a meeting concerning a student at any time they deem necessary. Parents should arrange such meetings before or after school. School policy prohibits teachers from having conferences with parents during class time or when they are on duty watching students since their focus must be on the children. Teachers also need their breaks and lunch periods, and often have extra duties during the day.
Teachers send home graded tests and samples of student work every week to keep parents informed about their child’s progress. We have found this to be more effective than closing school for several half-days during the year and having teachers spend many hours of preparation time for formal conferences.
Happy Valley School has a very active, dedicated and productive Parent Team which hosts activities throughout the year to support the students and teachers.
Traditionally, the Parent Team has held book fairs in order to acquire more books for our students. They also volunteer their time and efforts to order and sell school T-shirts, sponsor field trips for students, host luncheons for teachers and arrange class parties for students during the year. Members of the Parent Team have also put together and sold school yearbooks, including selling advertising. If you are interested in becoming part of this dynamic group, you may sign up at any time. Watch for their newsletters.
Please have your children arrange rides home, sleepovers or visits to friends’ homes outside of school hours. School and office telephones are very active business lines and should only be used by students for emergencies. Cell phones are a distraction from the educational environment and should not be brought to school by students (see “Cell Phones”).
A detailed plan for picking up students after school is in place, and should be followed very closely in order to avoid congestion on the parking lot and other safety hazards at dismissal.
If you need to pick your children up before their regular release time, you will need to come into the office personally and sign the Check Out Register before leaving with the children. You will be asked for photo identification if office staff members do not readily recognize you. If someone else is picking up your children, you should send a written note or call the office using your password in order to allow them to be released. The person picking up your children should be listed on the information you filled out at registration. They will be asked for photo identification before the children are released.
If you are picking your students up early, please call ahead to alert the office and teachers. Students will not be called to the office until you arrive, but they will have their belongings together and be ready to go quickly. Students should not be picked up early except on rare occasions when they have a doctor’s appointment or an emergency.
A map and schedule of release times is printed and distributed to parents. Please do not come onto the parking lot early or into the office to check your child out a few minutes before the normal release time in order to avoid traffic. All staff members are getting classes ready for dismissal, and students are in transition in hallways, making their way to dismissal areas and holding rooms. These disruptions cause a delay for several groups of students and other parents waiting in line on the parking lot. Arriving five minutes after your child’s scheduled release time will usually enable you to get through the pick up line with little delay. If you do arrive before your child’s release time, please wait off the parking lot until you are signaled to enter.
Report cards are sent home with students approximately every nine weeks. Parents keep the copy of the report card, but sign the sheet enclosed in the report card envelope and return the signature sheet and the envelope to school the next day.
Students are tested at end of the school year to measure academic progress in reading, spelling and math. The results of these tests are sent home to parents on the back of the final report card.
Rules are an important part of the educational environment. A school wide discipline plan is in place which provides consistency in establishing and enforcing rules. Rules that apply at all times and in all places on campus include:
¨ Follow directions from adult authorities immediately
¨ Always respect others and their property
¨ Use “inside voices” inside all buildings and on the bus
¨ Walk on sidewalks, in hallways and inside all buildings
¨ Horseplay is never appropriate at school; keep hands, feet and objects to yourself
¨ Bicycles, skateboards and scooters are to be walked, not ridden, at all times on campus
¨ Always place trash in proper receptacles, not on grounds or sidewalks
¨ Play only non-violent games
¨ Be careful using playground equipment and use it correctly
¨ Writing or marking on school walls, doors or furniture is never allowed
(Arizona law holds parents responsible for restoring vandalized/defaced school property.)
At all times, remain in areas on campus that are supervised by school staff
¨ Parents/visitors may not enter buildings without permission and a visitor’s pass.
¨ Visitors are welcome at our weekly assemblies, but they must obtain a visitor’s pass and go directly to and from the cafeteria. Visitors may not wander the halls or drop into classrooms without an invitation or prior approval.
¨ Parents/visitors may not play with children on the playground.
¨ Vehicle drivers should not talk on cell phones while driving through the drop off or pick up lines on our parking lot.
¨ The speed limit is 5 miles per hour on the parking lot at all times.
¨ Vehicles should not stop or park in the path of pedestrian crosswalks and block the way for children and other parents.
¨ Vehicle drivers should never stop on Happy Valley Road (either side) to drop children off or pick them up.
¨ Children may never drive or sit on driver’s laps to “guide” vehicles on our parking lot.
¨ Children may never be left alone in vehicles—with or without the engine running.
¨ Vehicle engines may not be left running without a driver at the wheel.
Smoking or tobacco use in any form is prohibited anywhere on campus at any time by any person—student, parent, employee or visitor. This law (as well as school policy) includes: the parking lot; inside any vehicle, moving or parked, on campus; the playground or sports field; or, inside any building—before, during or after school hours.
Resumes for all teaching staff members are on file in the office and available for parents to review upon request. All classroom teachers at Happy Valley School meet the requirements for Highly Qualified status under the No Child Left Behind Act. All staff working in any capacity must possess a Fingerprint Clearance Card which requires an FBI background check.
Students should not be tardy unless it is absolutely necessary, since arriving late to class is a disruption for the entire class. Late students miss important information at the beginning of the day, and feel pressured and embarrassed (the same uncomfortable feeling parents get when they are late to work).
Being late is sometimes unavoidable, but it should not be a bad habit children learn in their formative years that will likely stay with them throughout life. When students are late, valuable instruction time is taken away from other students while the teacher goes back over directions and others wait for that student to join in or catch up with class activities. Respecting others’ time is an important attribute children should learn.
If students are tardy, parents must come into the office, sign them in and provide a reason. A school staff member will write out a late pass and walk or send the student to class. Parents should not go to the classroom to discuss with the teacher why the student is late.
We are required to report attendance information, including excused and unexcused tardies, to the State. A formal letter will be sent to parents from the School after the fifth tardy. A student with a record of excessive tardiness and absenteeism may not be passed on to the next grade/curriculum level at Happy Valley or the next school they attend.
Arizona Statutes mandate that children attend 95% of the 180 days that school is in session. Tardies count toward that attendance as do early pickups. A school report is generated every week containing excessive tardies and absences. The report is given to the Truant Officer who then contacts parents. If attendance continues to be a problem, the officer will issue a citation which requires a court appearance.
A student with a record of excessive tardiness and absenteeism may not be passed on to the next grade/curriculum level at Happy Valley or the next school they attend.
In accordance with Arizona law, all visitors are required to report to the office as soon as they arrive on campus unless they are dropping off or picking up a student on the parking lot in compliance with established procedures.
For each visit, visitors sign in and get a visitor pass from school staff before going into the classroom building, out to the playground or to any area on campus. We encourage parents to come to weekly assemblies or to come and have lunch with their children anytime.
The educational objectives of the school require that students and teachers focus on their work and be free of distractions so that teaching/learning time is maximized. Classroom visitations should create as little interruption as possible so that student learning continues.
For the safety of our students and in consideration of legal liabilities, we ask that all visitors follow the established policies and procedures on our campus at all times.
¨ Visitors who want to see a classroom or spend time with their children at school should call ahead to arrange the most beneficial time for the visit.
¨ Classroom observations/visitations should be no longer than 15-20 minutes.
¨ Visitors should not attempt to engage teachers in conversation during class time or when teachers are on duty. Their full attention must be given to students during school hours and teachers are always happy to schedule a personal or telephone conference later.
¨ Younger children (including younger siblings of HVS students) should not accompany adult visitors or volunteers into classrooms or onto the playground during school hours. We cannot be responsible for their safety on the playground and they are a natural distraction in the classroom.
¨ Visitors should not accompany students onto the playground, nor may they interact with students or participate/engage in activities with students (other than their own) except on Field Day. Other parents do not want their children interacting with adults they do not know without their permission.
¨ Visitors who eat lunch with their student should sit at a table that is not occupied or needed by other students who are expected to sit at their assigned tables with their classes. Lunch visits should never be an interruption that prevents staff members from keeping order, attending to the safety of the student body or adhering to rules and schedules that enable lunch periods to run smoothly.
¨ Visitors should be appropriately dressed with attire that would be acceptable student wear according to the school dress code.
Visitors and volunteers should never:
¨ Pick up a student; place a student on their lap; hold a student close physically; massage, caress, or kiss them; or express affection toward any student physically or verbally (other than their own child).
¨ Verbally or physically punish their own child in front of other children.
¨ Yell at, grab, touch, strike, or be physically or verbally antagonistic toward any child, staff member or other adult.
¨ Correct, discipline, question, or give orders to any student other than their own except to prevent immediate injury.
¨ Physically examine any child in any way (hair, mouth, feet, areas beneath clothing, etc.).
¨ Pick up or move a student who has fallen, been injured or has become ill. It is imperative that proper first aid procedures be followed when any emergency situation occurs. Visitors or volunteers should summon the nurse or another School staff member to take care of the problem unless they have professional knowledge, experience and training regarding the situation at hand or unless a life-threatening condition exists.
¨ Allow themselves to come into contact with the blood, saliva or other body secretions of students or anyone else on campus, field trips or school related activities. The use of gloves and taking other precautionary measures to protect themselves is imperative.
Parents and visitors should not accompany students to classes in the morning, nor attempt to visit with students or teachers after 8:00 a.m. when teachers are starting classes and getting students focused on their work.
Volunteers are welcome and appreciated at all form levels. Their help and special skills are greatly needed to enhance the classroom environment.
Volunteers must thoroughly read, then sign the Volunteer Agreement before working with students. If volunteers will be working with children out of the immediate sight and supervision of the teacher, they must be fingerprinted. Fingerprint information is available in the office. The fingerprint card will belong to the volunteer and thus the cost of getting fingerprinted is the responsibility of the volunteer.
Volunteers should always arrange their schedule with the teacher ahead of time to allow the teacher an opportunity to plan the best way to use the help. Use of volunteers is at the discretion of the teacher, and volunteers must check in at the office, sign the register and obtain a badge.
Students are encouraged to bring water to school in plastic bottles (with lids) with their names on their bottles. Bottles may be refilled at the drinking fountain, but the school does not supply bottled drinking water. Students do not take water bottles out to the P.E. field or playground or keep them at their desks.
* The policies contained in this handbook are subject to change without governing board approval.
Campus:
7140 W.
Happy Valley Road
Peoria, AZ 85383
(623) 376-2900 – Office
(623) 376-9030 – Fax
Corporate Office:
833 E.
Sixth Ave
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 655-7868
(480) 655-7870
Copyright © 2005, © 2006, ©2007
By Happy Valley School, Inc.
An Arizona Public, Charter School
Owners/Board Members:
President: Mr. Ernest Gaddie
Mrs. Delite Gaddie
Director: Mr. Glen Gaddie
Principal: Mr. Roger McCurley
Vice Principal/Curriculum Coordinator: Mrs. Marcia Phillips
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