Handbook

Students are expected to attend school regularly and on time. District policy and state law require daily school attendance for those between the ages of 5 and 18, or until graduation from high school.

If a student is absent from class, he or she should do one of the following within two days of returning to school:

• Bring a note to the attendance office from a parent or guardian stating the date(s) of the absence and the reason(s) for the absence.
  or
• Have his or her parent or guardian call the attendance office at 265-7741 and give the date(s) of the absence and the reason(s) for the absence.

Habitual truants are reported to APS Attendance Office, CYFD staff, Juvenile Probation, District Attorney, Truancy Court and the State of NM.

APS students are considered truant at 5 unexcused absences, and habitually truant at 10 unexcused absences in a school year.

Absences

Absences may be excused for the following reasons, with appropriate documentation:

• Doctor’s appointment
• Death in the family
• Illness
• Medical, health or legal appointments
• Family Emergency
• Suspensions
• Religious Commitment
• Limited and extenuating circumstances approved in advanced by the principal.

In the event that the school has not received notification of absence by a parent for three (3) consecutive days, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian.

• Intervention strategies will be provided by the school- Refer to the APS Handbook.
• Excessive excused absences may result in further inquiry from the principal and request for additional documentation.
• Family vacations are considered unexcused absences, and it is expected that parents will schedule vacations during the period of time when school is not in session.
• Students who are signed out before the end of the instructional day must have written documentation of the reason (as defined under excused absences) Students who miss 50% of a class period are considered absent.
• If you arrive late to school please sign in at the office. If your parent is going to pick you up early they must check you out at the Main Office. Students will only be released to people noted on the student information card. Photo identification is required each time!

Student success in school is directly tied to attendance. Responsibility for attending class lies with the student and support of the parent.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility, to make up all the work you have missed.

You have the number of days you were absent to make up your assignments. You must make arrangements with each of your teachers when you return to school as to when your assignments are due.

If you are going to be absent for three or more days then ask your parent to call the Main Office for your assignments and make arrangements to pick them up. We need 24 hours notice to allow the teachers time to respond and get your work.

It is your responsibility to be on time to class. If you are not on time to class, in general, the following steps will be followed:

• 1 tardy: 1st Verbal Warning
• 2 tardies: 2nd Verbal Warning
• 3 tardies: Sign Accountability Card
• 4 tardies: Teacher Contact Parent
• 5 tardies: Office Referral > 3 day lunch detention > Teacher Contact Parent
• 6 tardies: 5 days lunch detention > Teacher Contact Parent
• 7 tardies: 3 days in TIPS is assigned by an Administrator

The dress code is designed to promote a positive, safe, and healthy learning environment. Students may choose from items within this dress code.

As a general rule, clothing that is torn, shredded, excessively tight or revealing, oversized, gang-related, or that contains inappropriate messages or symbols is unacceptable. No styles of hair or clothing that will distract from the educational process are allowed.

Please check with the school administrator if you are in doubt about an item not listed. Students who are out of compliance will be able to call home for a change of clothing. They will wait in TIPS room until they are provided with the appropriate clothes. Continued violations of dress code will result in TIPS, or suspension.

Pants

• Any Solid color pants or jeans
• No rips, tears or holes in jeans
• 5-pocket jeans, carpenter jeans, skinny jeans, painter pant, capri and crop pants are allowed

• Must fit AND be worn at the waist
• No dropped crotch or saggy pants
• No wide legs or embellishments
• May not be rolled up or have rubber bands around ankles.
• NOT ALLOWED: sweat pants, jogging pants, leggings, leggings with pockets or buttons, spandex (too tight), or bike shorts.

Shorts

• Any solid color and plaid shorts (no basketball shorts)
• Girls: Must be no shorter than fingertip length with arms fully extended
• Boys: shorts must not be longer than 2” below the knee
• Undergarments (boxers OR basketball shorts) shall not show at any time.

Skirts/Skorts/Jumpers

• Solid Colors Only (no Jean Skirts)
• No slits or wrap skirts
• No shorter than 4” above the top of the knee

Shirts

• Any collared shirt or button down (short or long sleeves, no sleeveless shirts) stripes, polka dots, plaid print is allowed. Any solid colored t-shirt is allowed with no print.
• Any Hayes t-shirt, Highland t-shirt or University t-shirt is allowed.
• Manufacturer logos will be allowed on collared shirts as long as they are not greater than 1-½ inches in diameter
• Turtlenecks (mock or regular) are allowed. May only have the top button undone and not show cleavage.
• No lace or rounded collars on uniform shirts. No sleeveless shirts or tank/camisole tops permitted alone or as an undershirt.
• No designs, zippers, or decorated collars or sleeves.
• Sweatshirts or sweaters may be worn over your uniform, but polo collar must be showing.
• HMS, AVID, or New Mexico University logo T-shirts or sweatshirts are allowed everyday HHS logos are acceptable any day of the week, except jerseys
• May be worn un-tucked, length not to exceed wrist when arms are at sides

Jackets/Hoodie Sweatshirts

Any Type of Jacket/Hoodie as long as it does not promote negative behaviors (profanity, violence, sex, drugs, alcohol, bigotry, disrespect, gangs), or that is highly distractive, disruptive or immodest.

• NM Universities or High Schools may be worn over uniform clothing and in dress code compliance.
• No trench coats or dusters.
• Hoods may not be worn in the building.
• May not be worn in the classroom without teacher permission

Other

• Short-sleeve or Long-sleeve white undershirts or match uniform color worn. (must be tucked in or not showing)
• Hats may not be worn or carried on campus.
• Belts must not: hang down more than 2inches past first belt loop, have large buckles, and be studded. No inappropriate messages on belt or buckle are allowed.
• Leggings/tights may be worn under skirts if matching color of uniform skirt.
• Shoes must be worn at all times: slippers, flip-flops, or sandals are not allowed.
• No gauges, spiked or other distracting jewelry including chains from pockets. Wristbands must not have inappropriate images or messages. Must remove upon request. No facial/tongue/nose jewelry, pins or body piercing, or gauged ears. Clear plugs only may be worn.
• Beanie must be worn only outside
• Hair must be natural color and if there are streaks, ombre or highlights they may be blonde, brown, natural red (not bright red), or auburn. Also, streaks or hair may not be an unnatural color (no green, pink, blue, purple, ruby red, etc.)
• No Mohawks. “Faux hawks” can’t be higher than an inch, and no graphics or other shaved designs in hair.
• No visible tattoos, writing on skin, clothing, or backpacks.
• No unnatural colored contacts.
• No sagging/bagging/skin-tight clothing/no spandex or leggings
• No sunglasses, bandanas, sweatbands, or hairnets

The administration has the right to update or change the behavior or uniform policy at any time during the school year as necessary.