Handbooks
San Antonito STEM Magnet Handbook Links
APS Student Handbook Links
Attendance
Attendance Line: (505) 281-3931
Albuquerque Public Schools strongly believes that daily school attendance is necessary for students to fully benefit from the instructional program. Excessive absenteeism, regardless of the reason, will negatively impact student academic achievement.
- A parent/guardian must notify the school each day that the student will be absent in accordance with the notification procedure established by the school. Only the student’s parent/guardian may report an absence.
- A parent/guardian shall keep the school informed of your current address and phone number for emergency notifications.
- A “Safety Call” will be sent out to the parent/guardian at 9:30 AM if the student is not recorded as present by 9:00 AM. This call is sent out through the District, not the school.
- An “absence” call will be sent out to the parent/guardian at 10:30 AM and again at 4:30 PM if the student still is not recorded as present.
Absences may be excused for the following reasons with appropriate documentation:
- Illness (including chronic illness documented on a health plan, IEP or 504 plan)
- Limited family emergencies; family deaths
- Medical, health or legal appointments
- Suspensions
- Religious commitment
- College visit
- Limited extenuating circumstances as approved in advance by the school principal.
All absences for other reasons are unexcused, including:
- Family vacations outside of the normally scheduled school break
- Non-school sponsored activities or trips.
Absences follow the student throughout the school year, from semester to semester and from school to school.
- The parent/guardian of those students who reach the two (2) day unexcused absences will receive a phone call.
- The parent/legal guardian of those students with five (5) day unexcused absences will receive a phone call. Parent/guardian will be required to sign an attendance contract w/the school staff.
- The parent(s)/guardian(s) of students who have 10 full day unexcused absences will receive written notice of the habitual truancy by mail or by personal delivery.
Excessive Absences
- Absences due to school-related activities shall not be included when evaluating excessive absences.
- A student shall not be allowed more than ten (10) school-related absences per class per semester.
- State law requires schools to withdraw a student after ten (10) consecutive days of absence.
Tardy
- Students who are tardy for class must be walked into the school and signed in by their guardian. The parent/guardian will be called if the student walked in by the parent.
Leave Earlies are tracked in the office and on the student’s progress report. Students miss valuable information when checked out before the end of the day. Chronic Leave Earlies are reported to the Truancy Office just like Tardies.
Visit the APS website for more information on the APS Attendance Policy
Bus Information And Rules
Remember
- Riding the school bus is a privilege.
- APS does not provide school bus transportation to transfer students.
- The bus driver cannot change the bus route.
- The driver cannot accept any notes authorizing them to drop off students at a point other than the student’s regular stop.
General Rules
- Students will be picked up and dropped off only at their assigned stops.
- The school bus will leave the school bus loading zone seven minutes after the bell rings in the afternoon.
- The school bus driver will assign seats to students.
Safety Practices
- Students need to be cautious in the bus loading zone.
- A school bus driver will not stop for students who have missed the bus once it is in motion.
- No glass items, live animals, or dangerous objects will be transported on the school bus.
- Musical instruments exceeding 40 inches in height will not be allowed on the bus.
- Large items may not block the aisle or exits of the bus.
Parent Responsibilities
- Make sure your child knows his/her bus number, what stop to get off at, home address and phone number.
- Make sure your child understands bus safety rules and expected behavior.
- Make sure your child arrives at the designated bus stop 10 minutes prior to the bus’ scheduled arrival time.
- Parents must be present to meet kindergarten students. Kindergarteners will not be left unattended at a bus stop in the afternoon, if a parent is not there to meet the child, unless APS and the bus company have prior written approval from the parent to allow the student to be left unattended or go home with an older sibling.
- Notify the school of any changes to contact information so parents can be notified in case of emergency.
- Be responsible for any observed damage caused by their children on the bus or at the bus stop.
Student's Responsibilities
- Arrive at the bus stop ten minutes before stop time.
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the doors are opened before approaching the bus.
- Use the handrail. Be careful no clothing or belongings get caught on the handrail.
- Sit in their assigned seat.
- Sit on the seat facing forward, feet on the floor, and speak in a normal tone of voice.
- Follow the driver's directions promptly.
Bus Discipline Plan
- The principal/designee at the school will address referrals from bus drivers according to their school bus discipline plan.
- The principal/designee has the authority to suspend a student from the bus and determine the length of the suspension.
- Severe disruption and dangerous behavior will result in immediate suspension of school bus privileges.
- All rules listed in the School Transportation Handbook will apply on the school bus.
Cell Phone / Electronic Device Policy
APS has updated the district’s cell phone policy. The full policy can be found on the APS website. Electronic devices are defined as anything with an on-off button. San Antonito requires these devices to remain in a student’s backpack, OFF after the first bell in the morning and OFF until after the last bell in the afternoon. The main office is designated as the school area where cell phones can be used, before 8:40 and after 3:40. If a student removes it from the backpack or turns it on between the first bell and the last bell, it will be confiscated and the family will be called. An adult family member may pick-up the device in the office. Office phones are available for EMERGENCY student use.
Dress Code
The Manzano Cluster schools have developed a dress code that maintains a safe and positive school climate. Having a unified dress code benefits the transition of students from one level to another. These standards provide assistance for making appropriate personal choices that are acceptable for the students attending one of the 12 schools that feed to Manzano High School. Consequences may include family bringing appropriate clothing to school so that the student is able to change or being sent home. Students are expected to be neat, clean and appropriately dressed for learning. Shoes must be worn at all times.
The following items are prohibited on the San Antonito campus:
- Clothing or accessories that display insignias that suggest elicit behaviors, gang affiliation or abuse.
- Toys that resemble weapons of any kind.
- Clothing or accessories that advertise display or promote any drug (including tobacco and alcohol), gang affiliation, sexual innuendo, violence, weaponry, profanity, hate or bigotry towards any group.
- Clothing, hairstyles or jewelry that disrupt the educational process, including, but not limited to excessive body piercing, muscle shirts, white tank undershirts, shredded/frayed, off-the shoulder, low cut, see-through or minimal clothing are prohibited. Shoulder straps for female students must be a minimum of 2 inches wide. Cleavage must be completely covered.
- Headgear of any kind, such as hats, bandannas, do rags, scarves, hairnets, sunglasses and gloves are prohibited INSIDE any school facility. Hats with bills must be worn with bill forward. Banned accessories include, but are not limited to, belt loop or wallet chains and any other long chains, spiked jewelry and extended belts.
- Sagging pants/torn, ripped (pants below the waistline). If the shirt is too long to determine if pants sag below the waist, students may be required to tuck in their shirt. Pants must fit at waist.
- All attire should be no shorter than the point where the fingertip ends when the student is standing up straight.
- No skin should show between the bottom of the shirt/blouse and the top of the pants/skirt.
Review the APS website for more information on the APS Student Dress Policy.