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Handbook

Abbreviated Day

On an abbreviated day, school begins two hours later than normal: 10:55 am - 3:45 pm. Buses will operate except for Pre-K. The cafeteria will operate through lunch, no breakfast served.

Attendance

Children must be in school to learn. Extensive research shows that children who come to school regularly and on time are more successful than students who do not. Unless children are ill, they should be in school.

Tardies

It is important to your child’s education that students arrive on time. Tardies are very disruptive to the learning process. Excessive tardies will require a mandatory conference with the principal, counselor, or parent liaison. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more policies regarding tardies.

Attendance

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 until graduation from high school.

Students are allotted 4.5 unexcused absences per semester and no more than 9 unexcused absences per school year.

Absences may be excused for the following reasons with proper documentation:

  • doctor’s appointment
  • death in the family
  • religious commitment
  • illness
  • family emergency
  • diagnostic testing
  • school or college visit

Parents/guardians are urged to call the school to report the absence of their children.

Calls regarding absences are requested in the morning no later than 9:30 a.m .

If the school does not receive phone notification on the day of an absence, the parent or guardian will provide the school with a written explanation for the absence the following day.

Absences will be recorded daily. Excessive absences will require a mandatory conference with the principal or counselor.

Cell Phones and Personal Electronics

McCollum recognizes that in today’s world the cell phone is a critical part of family communication.

  • If your child has a cell phone or personal electronic device, it must be turned off and in backpacks during the school day.
  • If you need to contact your child during the school day, you may call the office.
  • If a child chooses to use their cell phone or personal electronic device during the school day, it will be confiscated and brought to the office.
  • If your child chooses to bring their cell phone or personal electronic device, McCollum is not responsible if lost or theft occurs.

These items may be picked up at the end of the school day.

Discipline

All students are expected to display respect to teachers, staff members, and fellow students at all times. There may be an occasion for a student to see the principal for misbehaving; this will be handled immediately with contact to the parent or guardian.

Each student has received an APS student behavior handbook, to which McCollum follows these guidelines. Please read this handbook for information. If you need a copy, please feel free to pick one up in the office.

Dress Code

The policy for the dress code at McCollum is to ensure the health and safety of the students and to avoid disruption of instructional time. Clothing and hairstyles should not detract from the learning environment. However, we will always respect religious preferences. For a more detailed look at the dress code, please refer to our student handbook.

Homework

Homework is not designed as punishment. Your child’s teacher will use the assignment as an extension of a lesson. Unless your child is in kindergarten or first grade or requires extra assistance, he/she should independently complete homework. Your child will miss a recess if there is a pattern of missed homework assignments. This is not a long-term solution for missed homework. If not completing homework assignments becomes habitual, your child’s teacher will contact you to work out long-term solutions.

Lost and Found

Every month the lost and found will be cleaned out and unclaimed items will be taken to the PTA clothing bank.

Safety

The safety of our students is very important at McCollum. A school staff member (teacher or EA) assigned to the classroom will accompany their class to and from all pullouts (P.E., library, music, computers). Each student will be taught the rules of the school grounds. Weapons of any kind will not be tolerated, in accordance with APS policy and state law.