AMERICAN ACADEMY: Parent eHandbook

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SECTION 1: SCHOOL OPERATIONS

Office Communication

Office Hours

Office hours at American Academy are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The school office is closed on all holidays listed on the school calendar and during weather-related school closures.

Contact Information

Attendance Line: 720-873-7399

Main Office: 720-873-7395

Fax: 70-873-7398

Email: info@americanacademyk8.org

Messages for Students

Messages for students must be called into the school office and should only be urgent. Parents are not allowed to call directly into the student’s classroom to speak with their student. Messages received after 3:15 p.m. may not be delivered before the end of the school day.

Early Student Pick-up

Early pick-up of students must be completed prior to 3:00 p.m. Parents must sign out their student in the American Academy office. The student will be paged to come to the office for dismissal. For the safety and security of all students, parents must wait in the office for their child. No dismissals will occur through the front office after 3:00 p.m. All parents will be directed to the carpool line to pick up their student after 3:00 p.m.

Late Student Pick-up

Carpool is from 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. and all parents are expected to pick up their children during this time. Students not picked up by the end of carpool will be sent to Kid's Club and parents will be charged at the current Kid's Club tuition rate. Students must be picked up from Kid's Club by 6:00 p.m.

Change of Information

Please notify the school office of any change in contact information including phone numbers, address, email and emergency contacts.

School Closures and Delays

American Academy will follow all school closures with the Douglas County School District. American Academy will follow the same procedures that are announced for Douglas County Elementary Schools. Broadcasts are usually made on local television and radio stations between 6 am and 9 am. Information can also be found on media websites (9News, 850 KOA). This includes school delays (late start) or complete closure of the school.

American Academy will also post information on this website and will email parents when necessary. If school is cancelled, the school’s voice mail message will provide information. When Douglas County Schools are closed, all school-sponsored activities at American Academy are also closed.

Security Procedures

All parents and visitors must check in at the front office before proceeding in the building. Upon entering the school, all visitors will be issued a parent badge or a visitor’s badge. The security door leading from the reception area into the school will remain locked at all times. Only authorized, badge-wearing personnel and visitors will be allowed beyond the security door.

School Hours

The following is a list of our daily school operations:

Elementary Student (Grade 1-8) Classroom and Carpool Hours

Elementary Student classroom hours:8:15 am – 3:30pm

Morning carpool drop-off: 8:00 am – 8:150am

Afternoon carpool pick-up: 3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Optional homework period (Grades 4 – 8 only): 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.*

*Because the optional homework period ends after carpool, parents must go into the building to sign out and pick up their students. Students must remain in study hall until 4:15; no dismissals will be allowed prior to 4:15.

Kindergarten Classroom and Carpool Hours

Morning Kindergarten classroom hours: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Morning carpool drop-off: 7:50 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Morning carpool pick-up: 11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

Afternoon Kindergarten classroom hours: 12:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Afternoon carpool drop off: 12:05 p.m.-12:15 p.m.

Afternoon carpool pick-up: 3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.

Full-Day Kindergarten classroom hours: 8:00 am – 3:15 pm

Morning carpool drop-off: 7:50 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Afternoon carpool pick-up: 3:15 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.

2008-2009 School Day Timetable

Please refer to the school day schedule for a more detailed breakdown of the school day for your student's grade.

Attendance Procedures

Attendance Line

Please call this number to report an excused absence: 720-873-7399.

Student Absences

Parents must contact American Academy via email, or phone the Attendance Line, before 8:15 a.m. each day a child is not attending school. If the child will be absent for a planned period of time, the parent needs to contact the school on the first day of the absence, specifying the exact dates of the absence and the date the student will return to school.

If a child is absent due to illness or vacation, he/she will be given two days per day of absence to make up missed work, including tests, quizzes, classroom assignments and homework. The student is responsible for obtaining and completing the missed assignment(s) within this period of time in order to ensure receiving credit for the work. This applies to tests, quizzes, classroom assignments, and homework. Work to be made up will be decided by the classroom teacher.

Because American Academy emphasizes classroom instruction, missing school for vacation is discouraged. Although the student can make up the assignments upon their return, the benefit of a knowledgeable teacher leading a class discussion cannot be replaced. Please plan extended vacations during non-school times. Students will not be given class work ahead of time when missing school because of vacations or other non-academic reasons.

American Academy follows the Douglas County policies for students absences. You may refer to the Douglas County website at www.dcsdk12.org for detailed information.

Tardiness

Roll is called promptly at 8:15 a.m. Students must be in their classrooms at that time. If a student arrives anytime after 8:15 a.m., the parent needs to sign in their child at the American Academy office. Students will be issued a tardy slip to show to their teacher when arriving to class. Refer to the American Academy Student Discipline Policy for the consequences of accumulated tardy slips.

Carpool Procedures

Carpool Policy

Carpool Map

Weather-Related Concerns

In the event of severe weather at carpool pick up time, parents will be required to come into the school and sign their child out. Once the child is accompanied by a parent, the parent may make the decision of whether to leave with the child or wait for the severe weather to clear. Please refer to the American Academy Flag Communication System section for more details.

Lunch

All students are responsible for bringing a lunch to school everyday with an ice-pack as needed. Please do not send soft drinks or red drinks in your child’s lunch. Please pack healthy lunches for your children so their bodies will be well-equipped for learning! American Academy offers a hot lunch option. Orders are placed on a monthly basis and paid for in advance. Milk is also available for purchase.

Lunch Periods

Full-Day Kindergarten lunch and recess :11:45 am – 12:30 pm

Grades 1 and 2 lunch and recess:10:55 am – 11:40 am

Grades 3 and 4 lunch and recess: 11:40 am – 12:25 pm

Grades 5, 6 and 7 lunch and recess:12:25 pm – 1:10 pm

School Supplies

American Academy uses EduKit for school supplies. Parents may purchase an EduKit online that will be delivered to the school and placed in your child’s classroom for the first day. If you would rather shop for supplies or you missed the ordering deadline, you may print the list from the American Academy home page.

Fees

Although the emphasis on technology at American Academy may reduce the number of textbooks that students are required to take home, some textbooks will need to be checked out to students. If books are lost or unduly damaged, fines will be collected. This policy encourages student responsibility for belongings. At the end of the year, the books assigned will be examined. If they show more than normal “wear and tear”, students will be asked to pay an additional amount to cover the cost of the book. To avoid damage, students are asked to cover their books and treat them carefully. Grocery bag brown paper is recommended as book covering material. Do not use contact paper or place tape to the inside of the book covers.

Final report cards are withheld until any outstanding fees are paid.

American Academy Student Fees, 2008-2009

Grades K-3 = $110.00 per student:

Workbooks (consumable) = $5.00

Technology = $10.00

STEM = $85.00

Textbook Fees = $6.00

Student Planner = $4.00

Grades 4-5 = $115.00 per student:

Workbooks (consumable) = $5.00

Technology = $10.00

STEM = $90.00

Textbook Fees = $6.00

Student Planner = $4.00

Grades 6-8 = $165.00 per student:

Art = $10.00

Music = $10.00

Technology = $10.00

STEM = $120.00

Textbook Fees = $11.00

Student Planner = $4.00

Birthday Parties

The birthday student may bring a small treat to distribute at the end of the school day or at a time set by the teacher. Individual classroom teachers will send home notices of any student allergies in their class. Please be sensitive to these needs and send in treats accordingly. Invitations to birthday parties for children must be extended outside the school day. Parents are not allowed to bring in lunches for a small group of students to celebrate birthdays. Any treats must be brought for the entire class.

Health Care

Allergies or Other Health Issues

If your student has an allergy or other serious health issue, please contact the school office. If necessary, the CAO, district Health Services personnel and your child’s teacher(s) will meet with you to discuss a plan.

Medication

If medication must be administered during school, the parent must fill out the necessary DCSD Medication Form. Medication will be kept in the front office and will be administered by American Academy office staff.

Illness and Injury

Students who verbalize symptoms of illness are sent to the school’s health room. It is the policy of the school district to send children home who have a temperature of 100 degrees or more, or who have vomited. If your child’s temperature is less than 100 degrees, but he/she appears unable to participate in classroom instruction, you will be contacted. Children should be kept home until they are fever free and/or have not vomited for 24 hours.

Most injuries that occur at school require minimal assistance administered in the school’s health room. In the event of more serious illness or accidents, we will first attempt to reach you at home or work. If we are unable to reach you, we will call the emergency numbers listed on your child’s enrollment form. If neither you nor your emergency contacts can be reached within a reasonable amount of time, school authorities will take the necessary steps to ensure the welfare of your child.

Communicable Illness

If your child has a communicable illness, please notify the American Academy office. Parents will be notified when students have been exposed to a communicable illness (i.e. Strep Throat) in the classroom if it is deemed necessary.

Safety

Fire Drills

On the advice of the South Metro Fire Department, American Academy will hold monthly fire drills.

Crisis and Emergency Response Plan

The administration and staff of American Academy have taken significant steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children while at school. The school has created a School Crisis and Emergency Plan in accordance with Douglas County School District (DCSD). This plan takes into consideration a variety of situations that could potentially arise in our school or our neighborhood and plans have been created should an emergency or crisis arise.

In the event of an emergency situation, an American Academy Phone Tree will be activated and parents will be called with information regarding actions that are being taken. The PTO will be setting up these phone trees by class with the help of the homeroom parents.

Additionally, it is important to note the following:

Please avoid coming to the school until you’ve been instructed to do so. It is possible that, during a crisis in the neighborhood, you may not be able to enter the school building if it compromises the safety of the children during a lockdown (see American Academy Flag Communication System).
Please DO NOT call the school directly during an emergency as this ties up phone lines and prevents important inbound or outbound calls with emergency personnel.

Parent and Administration Communications

American Academy Parent Communication Policy

Flag Communication System

Two flag poles are mounted at American Academy. One is next to the main front doors and the second is located next to the back door entry (students drop off/pick up point). American Academy staff will place the flags into position as conditions change:

Flag Color	Conditions	Actions Required
No flag/American flag	Operating as normal	No action required
Red flag	- Severe weather - Lock down (shelter-in-place) - Serious situation	- Parent/guardian MUST come into the school - Parent/guardian may take the child under assumption of risk
Black flag	Full lock down (e.g. criminal in area, crime scene next door, tanker truck spill on C470)	- Parent/guardian cannot take the child until conditions have improved and all clear to release has been given by Incident Commander. - Parents are to remain outside of the building—doors will not be opened. - Communications officer will explain situation to parents, when conditions allow.

SECTION 2: ACADEMIC PROGRAM

General Curriculum Information

Curriculum Description

Curriculum Policy

STEM Program

Grading and Report Cards

Report Cards

This traditional method of reporting to parents will be issued to all students at all grade levels on a quarterly basis. Grades for all students will be reported as percent with the correlating letter grade (see grading scale below). You will notice that our grading scale is consistent with other high achieving schools throughout the state. By raising the bar higher for our students, we stay consistent with our goal of high academic standards with goals for continuous improvement. Students are challenged at all ability levels. The level of instruction that the student is receiving will be noted on the report card. For example, if a first grade student is reading at the second grade level, “2nd Grade” will be noted next to the grade earned for reading.

Report cards will reflect a combination of homework and curriculum testing grades. Saxon, Open Court, and Core Knowledge all provide diagnostic and ongoing assessments to determine the student’s performance.

Parents may access their student's grades at any time using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal interface with your student's username and password. This information will be provided to you by your student's homeroom teacher. Your username and password will remain the same from year to year.

Grading Scale

American Academy Grading Scale

Ability Grouping

Ability Grouping Information

Ability Group Placement

Parents will be notified within the first few weeks of school of your student's placement.

Class Assignments

Class lists will be posted in the window of the school on a date to be announced each year, prior to the first day of school.

Teacher Communication

Communication between parent and teacher is paramount to student success. Parents can communicate with their child’s teacher via email or phone and expect a response within one or two business days. Teachers are available to meet with parents whenever needed. Parents are requested not to ask the teacher about their child’s progress at impromptu moments during school, drop-off or pick-up, while volunteering, or at other activities. Information regarding another student’s progress is strictly confidential and will not be shared.

Classroom Email Addresses

Parents may not use the email addresses of other families in the classroom to send mass messages to parents. These addresses may only be used if authorized by the teacher to send information about class parties, field trips, etc. These emails must be sent through the Homeroom Parent.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Two official parent/teacher conference sessions are scheduled after the 1st quarter and during the 3rd quarter as noted on the American Academy Calendar. Parents will be notified when sign-up sheets are available for scheduling conferences. These sheets will be posted in the front office a few weeks before conferences are scheduled. A confirmation email will be sent to you to confirm your conference time for each child. Parent/Teacher Conferences are a critical vehicle for communication between the parent and teacher. This allows an opportunity to discuss your child’s strengths as well as areas of concern.

Optional Homework Period

An optional homework period is offered after school for Grades 4 – 8 (Grades 1 – 3 do not have enough homework to justify a study hall) to provide teacher-supervised time when students may work on their homework and/or receive additional help. This should minimize the amount of homework a student takes home. Students who receive a Work Habits slip from a teacher may be required to attend after-school study hall.

Parent Portal

American Academy parents are required to check the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and the teachers' web pages (through the American Academy website) regularly for updates on grades, assignments and news. Students are responsible for checking the website for assignments as required.

Field Trips

Field Trips are an important component of the American Academy curriculum. Curriculum-related field trips are considered a required, not optional, activity for students. While enjoyable as well as a tremendous learning experience for students, field trips take a lot of time to organize. Parent cooperation is expected in returning permission forms and fees by specified deadlines. Much planning is dependent upon the number of participants; for example, either busses are ordered or parent transportation is arranged based on the number of students attending, and adult supervision is organized on the basis of per pupil ratio.

Because American Academy is required to make advance, non-refundable payments for field trips costs, fees cannot be returned to students who, due to extenuating circumstances, are unable to attend.

Students should plan to dress in their school uniform for any field trip unless instructed differently by the organizing teacher. Behavioral expectations for everyone are greater during field trips and infraction points may be doubled as determined by teachers and/or administration.

Field Trip Policy

Back-to-School Night

We will have a “Back-To-School” night for parents at the beginning of each school year. This will be the time for teachers to discuss specific information about our curriculum, their classroom requirements and other important information, as well as to answer questions. It is very important for parents to attend the Back-to-School night for each of their students.

Assessment Plan

I. MAP Testing

This online, norm-referenced assessment program (Measures of Academic Progress) will be used on a quarterly basis to assess 2nd – 8th grade students’ progress in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. This program maintains student assessment data over time to obtain an accurate measure of a student’s academic growth. By providing immediate feedback to the teacher and parent, MAP allows the use of data when it matters most. Reports are sent to parents shortly after the test.

II. Placement Testing

Math and Language Arts placement tests will be used at the beginning of the school year and on an ongoing basis to determine student placement for flexible grouping.

III. Star Testing

This online reading assessment will be used to assist in determining reading level placement for students as well as provide ongoing growth data. This aligns with our Accelerated Reader program, which we will use as a supplementary, incentive program to encourage independent reading by students.

IV. CSAP Testing

State legislation has identified model content standards for students in Colorado and has stipulated CSAP testing of students in several grades and content areas. Grade 3 – 8 students at American Academy will participate in mathematics, reading, writing, and science (Grade 5 and 8 only) CSAP tests. These assessments will be given in March and April.

The statewide assessment is considered an assessment comparing all students in Colorado. In late summer, the state will report assessment results at the school, district, and state levels. Individual students will receive a score report that describes their performance on this assessment as advanced, proficient, partially proficient, or unsatisfactory.

V. School Accountability Report

As a school, we will receive a “Report Card” from the state that will give us an overall Academic Performance score as well as Academic Improvement score. These Report Cards are sent home to all families from the district in the spring.

SST (Student Study Team)

The American Academy Student Study Team (SST) is a school based problem-solving group of teachers, school staff, and administrators whose mission is to assist colleagues and parents with intervention strategies for dealing with the academic and social-emotional behavioral needs of our regular education students. This group seeks creative ways to maximize the use of available resources. Any teacher or parent may request an SST meeting.

An SST meeting will be held for a student before referring a student for special education testing or retention.

Retention

Grade Promotion and Retention Policy

SECTION 3: SCHOOL RULES

Student Uniforms

Student Uniform Policy

Dress-of-Choice Day

Dress-of-Choice Days will be designated by the school administration as appropriate. The guidelines for allowable dress for these days are consistent with the general standards, style of dress, and grooming sections of the Uniform Policy. Casual clothing should always be in good repair. The length of shorts and skirts will be the same for Dress-of-Choice days as it is for any other day. Good taste is always an issue and parents should monitor students’ clothing selection on these days to ensure their children are within the spirit of the school policy.

Students should remember that Dress-of-Choice days are a privilege, not a right, and could be eliminated if casual dress becomes distracting to the learning environment.

If a student's dress of choice on these days is deemed inappropriate by the American Academy administration, that student will be kept out of class until suitable clothing can be brought to school.

Discipline

Student Discipline Policy

Please read the American Academy Student Discipline Policy to find out how to address any questions or concerns regarding student discipline.

General Discipline Guidelines

The objective of maintaining discipline is to ensure a learning environment that is free of disruption and safe for all students. Good conduct is expected of all students and will be actively recognized and rewarded. Bullying of any kind will not be tolerated. The classroom teacher is responsible for establishing a classroom management that fosters appropriate student behavior.

Because several teachers teach each student, American Academy has implemented an infraction system that is progressive and cumulative. The goal is to hold students accountable for their behavior at all times. This includes school-sponsored activities on campus or off. The American Academy Discipline Policy outlines the specific procedure for discipline as well as consequences.

Recess and Playground Rules

Recess

Students will receive a 20-minute recess during the lunch hour.
Additional recesses may also be scheduled on an individual classroom basis.
Outdoor recess will be held every day unless it is raining, snowing, or below 22 degrees. Student should come prepared with appropriate coats, hats and gloves for the variable Colorado weather.
If students wear snow boots to school, they need to bring shoes that conform to the dress code to wear in the classroom.

Playground

Consideration of others is a priority when playing any games on the playground.
The playground equipment is to be used the way it was intended.
Students must wear appropriate shoes at all times on the playground.
Fighting/wrestling of any kind is prohibited.
Toy guns or weapons of any kind are not allowed on the school grounds.
Students may not throw snow, rocks, or sand.
Students must stay in the playground boundaries.
Students may not go outside of playground boundaries to retrieve a piece of equipment (ball, Frisbee, etc.). Students should notify the playground supervisor.
Students are not to participate in overly aggressive, tackle games of any kind.
A pass is required from the playground supervisor if a student needs to come back into the school building during recess times.
Students are encouraged to work through their own disagreements during recess times but may consult with the playground supervisor when necessary.

Code of Conduct

The American Academy Code of Conduct is a contract between the parents, the student, the teacher, and the administration, committing each to the mission of the school and to a partnership for the student’s education. Parents and students signed the Code of Conduct as part of registration. At back to school night, teachers and the CAO will add their signatures to the Code of Conduct, completing the contract.

SECTION 4: PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Preparation for School

Parents are responsible for ensuring their child has a good breakfast, is appropriately dressed in his or her approved uniform clothing, and is on time to school each day, ready to learn.

Academic Help

Parents may need to assist their children with homework assignments from time to time. It is important for parents to assist in drill assignments and oral reading at home. The responsibility for good academic behavior rests on the individual student and his/her parents. It is critically imperative that parents assist the school in promoting, developing and maintaining that good academic behavior.

Volunteering

Volunteer Policy

If you plan to volunteer at school, please read the American Academy Volunteer Policy. Parents are responsible for completing the family volunteer hour commitment of 40 hours per year. There will be multiple opportunities throughout the year to get involved. Please contact the PTO for details.

Parent Information Nights

American Academy may offer seminars/information nights from time to time on a variety of topics. Watch the website and CAO Newsletters for details.