Handbook

When checking out a student:

1. You MUST present a photo ID.
2. You MUST be on your student's records to be authorized to check-out.
3. Please allow a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes when signing a student out – ittakes at least that amount of time to verify valid picture ID, issue a pass, and send for the student. Please note,during a lunch period-sign out time may take additional time.
4. To make the end of the day run smoother for us all, we ask you to please avoid checking-out your student after 2:30 PM.

For your student's safety, we cannot pull them out of class prior to the authorized person coming in and presenting a valid photo ID.

Students should bring only necessary materials to school. All other materials are considered unnecessary and a potential distraction to the instructional program.

The following are some, but not all, of the items that students may NOT have at school: chains, trading cards or collectibles, cameras, bandanas, squirt guns, toys of any kind, permanent markers, video games, radios, speakers, MP3 players, iPods, dangerous objects, valuable items, laser pointers, body sprays or perfumes. All items will be confiscated.

Possession of these items are considered serious and will result in consequences including, but not limited to, lunch detention, community service, Evening School, short-term suspension, possible discipline hearing and long-term suspension, and/or report to civil authorities:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Cigarettes/e-cigarettes, lighters, matches
• Tobacco products
• All illegal substances or contraband
• Knives, sharp objects, or sticks
• Slingshots
• Firearms/projectiles
• Weapon look-alikes
• Spray paint
• Fireworks

Tony Hillerman Middle School is NOT responsible for loss, damage, or theft of personal items.

Updated 2023-2024

THMS has adopted the APS dress code. Please follow the dress code when on campus. Clothing worn to school should not violate the rules of decency, offend or intimidate others, promote unsafe conditions, or distract from the educational process. Following rules promotes good citizenship. Clothing or personal belongings like jewelry, backpacks, purses, etc., which advertise, promote, or support alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, tobacco, or death are unacceptable. All APS students are eligible to receive assistance from the APS Community Clothing Bank. Any student or family member can go to their school counselor, nurse, or social worker to place a referral for assistance.

JL1 Student Dress Code APS Policy

The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education supports equitable and equal educational access and a student dress code that fosters an educational environment that values, affirms and welcomes ALL students. Dress codes shall be enforced consistently. equitably, equally, and in a manner that does not lead to differential treatment on the basis of racial identity, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity and observances, household income, body size/type or body maturity.

All students should be able to dress comfortably and the primary responsibility for a student’s dress lies with the student and the family,with the exception of schools that require a uniform. Schools shall not impose punishment related to student dress and dress code enforcement should not result in barriers to student attendance or participation, unless related to safety. Student dress choices should respect the district’s intent to sustain an inclusive community. Student attire shall not interfere with students’ health or safety, nor contribute to a hostile or intimidating learning environment. All students and staff are responsible for managing their own distractions without regulating another student’s dress.

Individual schools may adopt student uniform dress codes. If a school adopts a student uniform dress code, the school shall develop, implement and document processes used to ensure student, family, and community input and support for a student uniform dress code. Albuquerque Public Schools shall provide accommodations for families who require financial assistance with the cost of uniforms.

While each individual school may adopt its own dress code, no student in any APS setting may wear clothing that contains:

• obscene or violent language or images
• depictions of alcohol or drugs or other illegal item or activity
• racist content, hate speech, profanity or pornography
• accessories that could be considered dangerous or used as a weapon

School dress codes are an opportunity for student, family, and community engagement.

APS Student Dress Procedural Directive

The APS dress code shall not interfere with the right of students and their parents to make decisions regarding their appearance except when their choices affect the educational program of the school or the health and safety of others.

Principals shall develop and implement written individual school dress codes that comply with the requirements of this procedural directive. Individual school communities shall adopt their school dress codes to address the needs and standards of their communities and neighborhoods through use of a process that ensures input from students, families, faculty and staff of the school and community input. Students and their parents/legal guardians shall be aware of the individual school dress code and shall conform to those requirements, including a uniform dress code where implemented. The principal will review the process and the proposed dress code with the school instructional council and the associate superintendent. Principals shall interpret and enforce the dress code of his/her school.

Individual school dress codes shall be reviewed periodically with parents, teachers, and student group representatives to enlist their support and encourage pride.

Policy

Parents who provide their child with cell phones or electronic devices should be aware of the following: Cell phones or any other electronic devices may not be used during instructional time, including lunch and passing periods. All cell phones/electronics are to be turned off (not on vibrate) during the school day. We encourage you to secure your electronics in a locker or backpack. If an electronic device is out or on during the school day, it will be confiscated and turned in to the office. Students who possess a personal electronic device are solely responsible for its care.

“Personal electronic device” means any device that a student is in possession of which electronically communicates, sends, receives, stores, reproduces, or displays voice and/or text communication, media or data. These include, but are not limited to cell phones, multimedia devices, pagers, smart phones, MP3 players, music and media players, headphones, earbuds, speakers, gaming devices, tablets, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants.

Parents/guardians are advised NOT to contact students on their cell phones during the instructional day.

Phone For Student Use

Please do not attempt to text message your student during the school day. The cell phone discipline policy will be implemented. Students will be allowed to use the front desk phone during non-instructional time for emergencies only. Classroom phones are to be used at the teacher’s discretion for emergencies only. A student will not be refused use of the office phone if the student needs to contact their parent or guardian.

Unauthorized Use of Personal Electronic Devices

Unauthorized use of personal electronic devices includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. If an electronic device is out during the school day it will be confiscated and turned in to the office.
2. Possessing, viewing, sending or sharing video, images, or audio information having sexual, violent, illegal, or threatening content on school grounds, school buses, or during school events shall be prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and /or confiscation of the personal electronic device.
3. Transmitting school materials for unethical purposes such as cheating.
4. Any activity that may be in violation of the Albuquerque Public Schools Bullying Prevention policy and procedural directive

Electronic Device Consequences

These will be followed even if someone else has your phone!

• 1st Offense:Your parent/guardian may retrieve the personal electronic device from the administrative office within thirty minutes of the start or end of the instructional day. Parents/guardians must sign the personal electronic device out from the log kept in the office.
• 2nd Offense:Your parent/guardian may retrieve the personal electronic device no sooner than 7 days after its date of confiscation with thirty minutes of the start or end of the instructional day. Parents/guardians must sign the personal electronic device out from the log kept in the office.
• 3rd Offense:Your parent/guardian may retrieve the personal electronic device at the end of the semester in which the device was confiscated within thirty minutes of the start or end of the instructional day

Report An Absence: (505) 792-0698 ext. 37696

Policy

New Mexico law dictates that students between the ages of six (6) and eighteen (18) years of age are mandated to attend public school, private school, home school, or a State institution.

Daily attendance is mandatory to fully benefit from the instructional program. The district recognizes, however, that there are situations that dictate a student ’s absence. Therefore, in accordance with District guidelines, absences may be excused for the following reasons:

• Illness
• Medical appointments (students need to bring a doctor’s note to the office after the appointment)
• Death in the family
• Religious commitment
• Diagnostic testing
• Other circumstances as agreed to by the principal

An unexcused absence is any absence that does not adhere to the prescribed District guidelines(listed above), isnot school related, or is not reported within two (2) school days.

According to APS policy, out of town trips/vacations are NOT excused.

Excessive Absences

Excessive excused or unexcused absences (defined as five) or more absences per semester may result in a truancy meeting for parents and students. In addition, the student may be recommended for retention and/or disciplinary action. APS generates a truancy notification for unexcused absences. Students who have excessive absences will be referred to Children’s Court.

Tardies

A primary responsibility of Tony Hillerman students is to report to all classes in a timely fashion. All students are expected to be in their classroom seats by the bell, with all the necessary materials, and prepared to work. This will give all students in the class an opportunity to take full advantage of the learning time provided.

Per District policy, the only excused tardy is a doctor or dentist appointment. Students arriving late to school must have parents call ahead, write a note, or accompany their child to the front desk for the tardiness to be excused. All other tardies are unexcused. The tardy policy will be reviewed with the students at the beginning of the year. Excessive tardies may result in disciplinary actions.

Make Up Work

Our school make up policy is as follows:

• For students absent less than 3consecutive days; on the first day back to a class, students are responsible for requesting make-up assignments.
• If a student is aware of an upcoming absence; it is the responsibility of the student to ask each teacher for make-up assignments prior to the date(s) of absence.
• Students who are absent from school three (3) consecutive days or longer; parents may request homework by calling the attendance office at 792-0698 ext. 37560. Requests should be made within 24 hours of the third (3) day of absence. The requested make-up work should be picked up from the attendance office at the agreed-upon time. If make-up work is not picked up after the first request, students will not be allowed to request work again.
• The student will have the opportunity to complete the work in a period of time equal to the number of days absent unless other arrangements have been mutually agreed upon by the student and the teacher.
• Failure to complete make-up work in the time allowed may place students at risk of not earning class credits.
• Teachers may need 24 hours from the time of the request to compile assignments.

Field Trips & Attendance

Parents, please remember that even when your child is on a school-sponsored field trip, they will be marked for an excused activity absence. The reason is that if we were to have a fire drill or some emergency, all students must be accounted for; and since they are not physically in the building, they must be marked absent.

Please understand that teachers do take attendance prior to leaving for a field trip and report any missing students so that the list is accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact the teacher sponsoring the field trip.