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Double Eagle Student Parent Handbook
2024-2025 Parent Student Handbook (PDF)
Attendance
Contact: 505-857-0187
The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires that states, school districts and schools be held accountable for ensuring that all students meet high academic standards. On-time, daily attendance is a critical component of this educational process.
New Mexico law dictates that:
- Students between the ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age are mandated to attend public school, private school, home school or a state institution.
- The Albuquerque Public School District reports habitual truants to the Children’s Court Liaison office and to the State of New Mexico.
- APS students are allowed no more than ten (10) absences per school year.
- The parent/guardian must notify the school each day that the student will be absent, in accordance with the notification procedure established by the school.
- Absences may be excused for the following reasons, with appropriate documentation:
- Doctor’s Appointment
- Death in the Family
- Religious Commitment
- Illness
- Family Emergency
- Diagnostic Testing
- In the event that the school has not received notification of absence by a parent, the “Safe Arrival” volunteers will attempt to contact the parent. In the event that we cannot contact a parent, the absences will be coded as unexcused.
- Excessive absences may result in further inquiry from the counselor, district attendance liaison or the principal and request additional documentation. If absences continue, district policy requires that a plan is created with the Health and Wellness Team. The counselor will set this meeting up.
- Family vacations are considered unexcused absences; it is expected that parents will schedule vacations during periods of time when school is not in session.
- Students who are signed out before the end of the instructional day must have written documentation for the reason (as defined under excused absences) or be subject to the same consequences as tardy.
- Principals have discretion to make allowances for students who are faced with serious injury or serious or chronic illness.
- If a student misses over 50% or more of the school day, the absence will be recorded as a FULL day absence.
Attendance Procedures
Each day your child is absent or going to be late, please contact the attendance line before 8:00 am. An office clerk will check the attendance line every morning, beginning at 8:00 am. A call from the automated system verifying your child’s absence from class will go out to parents starting at 8:30 am. The attendance number is 505-857-0187.
If a student is absent from school more than three days, parents may contact the teacher regarding homework. One school day will be needed to prepare the assignments that can be prepared ahead of time, however, there may be assignments that students will have to make up after the return to school. (District policy does state that teachers are not obligated to provide school or make up work for vacations or out-of-town trips, however, we want students to be able to make up missed work for any reason.) Remember, classroom instruction missed during school days cannot be made up.
If a student must be removed from school early for a doctor's appointment or similar emergency, you must come to the office and sign the child out. We will not call a child out-of-class until a parent is physically in the office (you cannot telephone ahead for your child to be called to the office). We will not release a child to a parent waiting in a car outside. We do this in order to be able to identify those persons picking up children and to ensure the safety of your children. Your cooperation and understanding are appreciated.
Electronic Devices
Use of personal cell phones, iPads, iPods, electronic books, MP3 players, etc. during instructional time or at a time that would be disruptive to the educational process, are not permitted. The misuse of cell phones and other forms of technology that could include, but not be limited to the unauthorized taking of pictures, cheating, invading privacy, etc. (APS Policy Handbook). Electronic devices should not be brought to school and therefore, we are not responsible for damage, loss, or theft.
Cell phones should always be off and calls, texts, etc. cannot be accepted or made during the school day which includes recess and lunchtime. (Necessary phone calls should be made from the office using the school’s phone system.)
If a student disregards this policy with any personal electronic device, the item will be taken away and stored in the administrative office. Parents will need to retrieve the devise.
Dress Code
Appropriate dress in school is essential to the learning process, and we ask for your support in enforcing our dress code. We subscribe to the district's policy, which is as follows: “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 or 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 2 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 are prohibited. As a matter of common courtesy and respect, hats/caps are not to be worn while inside buildings except when there are documented instructional, safety, religious or medical reasons.”
In addition to the district’s policy, Double Eagle dress code supports Desert Ridge MS dress code and includes, but is not limited to, the following prohibited items:
- midriff tops, halter tops, strapless tops
- make-up
- shoes with wheels (“wheelies”); shoes with more than a one-inch heel or platform
Sleeveless shirts are acceptable as long as armholes are not so pronounced as to expose the chest. If an acceptable change of clothing is not available (i.e. spare T-shirts will be kept in the nurse’s office), you will be called to arrange for acceptable clothing to be brought to the school for your student. Inappropriately dressed children will wait in the administration office until their parents can be called to provide a change of clothing.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
During the times of “drop off” in the mornings and “pick-up” in the afternoons, we need to be patient and tolerant in all areas in order to keep our children safe. We’re all excited, we’re all in a hurry, and there are a lot of us! This adds up to a potentially dangerous situation for our children every day. We had an audit of our “traffic procedures” last spring and received high marks in the procedures we have in place. These procedures greatly reduce the risks to our children. The only problems we have had are the adults choosing NOT to follow them. The basic rules are outlined below.
- Use designated areas for pick-up and drop-off. All students with last names starting with A– K will use the Gym Parking Lot. All students with last names starting with L–Z will use the Northeast Parking Lot.
- The curbside lane is for drop-off/pick-up. The inside lane is for cars exiting the parking lot. Never attempt to load kids from the inside lane!
- Children should be waiting in the designated area by the Duty Teacher.
- When dropping your children off, wait to do so when you are in the in “drop off zone” which is after you have passed the crosswalk. (In the North Lot, after you have passed the first crosswalk)
- When a car reaches the designated pick-up zone, the children will be permitted to enter from the curb. Don’t stop in the crosswalk. Follow the car in front of you to exit the parking lot. Pick-up/drop-off should not take more than one minute. Please be patient.
- If your child is not ready when you reach the pick-up zone, exit and continue around again or pull into a parking space. Do not block traffic behind you.
- When exiting the parking lots, please note the following:
- From the Northeast Lot: DO NOT turn right; proceed straight ahead or turn to the left. If you need to get to Paseo del Norte, turn left, then left at Eagle Rock to Browning. If you need to get to Tramway, proceed straight ahead. Turn Right and then the first left to Tramway. This only takes a couple of extra minutes but it prevents traffic backups and the potential to hit a child in the crosswalk.
- From the Gym Parking Lot: DO NOT turn left; turn only right. This prevents traffic issues.
- If you need to assist your child in any way, park in a parking space and walk your child to your car and cross the parking lot using the designated crosswalks ONLY.
Above all, please practice PATIENCE and RESPECT. It will prevent children from getting hurt. Please respect these procedures and be a good example to the children in your car! REMEMBER that the crossing guard and duty teachers are all there working to keep your kids safe. (Give them a smile.)