Student Handbook

Throughout the school year, assemblies are scheduled for the student body. Students will be advised by way of the school announcements of scheduled assemblies. Although we want all students at assemblies, there are situations which would exclude students from attending (especially previous poor assembly behavior).

Student Attendance

Attendance Line: 720-972-5238

Absences must be reported on the school’s attendance line, even if the student’s teacher(s) have been informed of the absence. The school’s attendance line may be called at any time to report an absence or tardy. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class period.

District Policy 5020 provides specific guidelines regarding student attendance. 

Teachers will make contact with parents when a student reaches between 5-10 tardies per class period. At 10 tardies the student may receive a discipline referral. Subsequent tardies may result in additional behavior referrals.

Early Departure/Late Arrival

Students who must leave school during regular school hours must be signed out through the office by a parent or legal guardian. A student may not be dismissed from their classroom until someone has signed the student out. Students cannot be released to leave school alone. Students are involved in instruction until the end of the school day. 

We request that you do not pick your students up early unless it is extremely necessary. Students who arrive late to school must check in at the office.

As a safety precaution and due to limited space, students will not be allowed to take backpacks or book bags to the classroom. Backpacks or book bags need to be kept in the student’s locker. Students may carry a computer case as long as it is no larger than a trapper keeper.

• Outside staff supervision of students will begin at 8:20am. If students are coming in for a club, they should enter through the doors designated by their club sponsor.
• Supervision in the cafeteria for breakfast will begin at 8:15, and breakfast is served at 8:15.
• Outside supervision of students after school will end at 4:00pm.

In order to ensure a positive and safe learning environment that helps facilitate self-discipline, encourage academic success and promote school wellness, school staff will enforce District policies and school rules related to expected student behavior. Consequences will be administered by staff in those circumstances where a student exhibits behavior contrary to these policies/rules. Each teacher/staff member will have a set of specific guidelines of acceptable behavior, in addition to the school rules and District policies.

In and Out of School Suspension

Students assigned to ISS/OSS may not attend nor take part in any extracurricular or after school activities on days of suspension, unless special arrangements are made.

Saturday School

Saturday School takes place in the cafeteria at Westlake. Students will work on assignments for classes or read a book. In some cases, students will do some work detail like cleaning up trash outside or cleaning desks. The student’s attendance is mandatory for the entire three hours; late arrivals will be sent home and an automatic suspension given. All school rules will be strictly enforced. Any violation will result in immediate dismissal from Saturday School and a suspension given the Monday of the upcoming week. The student will be given two 5-minute bathroom/drink breaks. There will be no cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, or radios, food or drink, sleeping, talking, games or drawing (unless the student is working on an assignment that includes art). Students must also follow the District’s student dress code policy and all District policies and procedures.

Students must follow District Policy 5000: Student Code of Conduct. A summary is available and includes information such as:

• student conduct
• student attendance
• cell phones and personal technology devices
• District technology/Internet Usage and Internet Safety
• student dress code
•  bullying and harassment 

All bikes ridden to school should be locked in the racks on the West side of the school grounds. Bikes should not be locked to trees on or near school property. Scooters and skateboards may be stored inside the main entrance.

Due to safety concerns, bicycle/scooter riding and skateboarding are prohibited on school property. The school does not assume liability for bicycles, skateboards or scooters.

All textbooks are provided by the school. Lost or damaged books must be paid for by the student before another book will be issued. If a lost book has been paid for and then found, the student will be given a refund. School equipment damaged by a student because of carelessness will be paid for at the time it occurs.

Learn more about the District's Technology and the Internet Responsible Use Agreement.

There are certain basic rules that students will be expected to follow when they are in the lunchroom. 

• You must put your books, chromebook, and any other items away in your locker and get your jacket before you come to lunch. You will not be permitted to be in the halls or go to your locker until the lunch period is over. 
• All food must be eaten in the lunchroom unless otherwise approved. 
• When you are finished eating, you are expected to leave the table and surrounding area clean for the next person. This includes the floor and table. Then raise your hand to be excused. 
• When you leave, take your tray to the return counter and exit the lunchroom through the assigned doors. 
• After you have finished eating, you should go to the assigned area outside. 
• Remember that others are in class. Please stay away from the building and classroom windows. 
• If you have been assigned lunch detention by a teacher, you must have a pass from the teacher to leave the lunchroom. 
• Students must have a pass in order to leave the lunchroom. 
• Should a student cause a disturbance in the cafeteria or be found in the halls without a required pass, the student may be put on a clean-up work crew or some other similar activity. Constant misconduct may result in loss of the privilege of using the cafeteria.

The district’s policy on student cell phones and other personal technology devices (PTDs) is as follows:

• PTDs must be in the “off” or “silent” position and stored out of sight at all times during the school day, including lunch and recess.
• In non-academic settings outside the school day, including before or after school activities or on school transportation, PTDs may be used in “silent mode” provided the use of the PTD, as determined by the supervising staff member or bus driver, in no way disrupts, poses a safety concern or otherwise violates the District’s Student Code of Conduct.
• Students with an IEP/504 plan/health care plan are permitted to have access to their cell phone or other PTD in accordance with their plan.

District Policy 5030 defines the term “Personal Technology Devices” to include any privately-owned portable technology device, including but not limited to cell phones and wearable technology such as smart watches, smart glasses, wireless earbuds, and wireless headphones.

The school is not responsible for any lost, stolen or destroyed PTDs on school property or at a school-sponsored activity away from campus. School administration, teachers, or staff will not investigate incidents.

Students who violate the district’s policy on student use of cell phones and other personal technology devices may be disciplined in accordance with District Policy.

The school is proud to offer a variety of student activities outside the regular school program. Students are encouraged to become involved in such activities. Involvement fosters school pride, a stronger sense of belonging at school and better appreciation of the total school program. Because of this, we encourage every student to participate in at least one activity outside of the regular classroom. These activities are held before or after school and may require parents to sign permission forms or provide transportation to and from the activity. For safety and supervision reasons, it is important that students arrive and be picked up promptly at prescribed times. To contact club sponsors, visit our school website.

School-sponsored clubs are designed based upon student interest. A student must attend at least four full classes during the school day to take part in student activities. Any student with an unexcused absence will not be permitted to appear at or in a school activity of any type. A suspended student may not attend or participate in any student activities during the period of suspension.

Connect with your school and teachers.

The free Adams 12 Five Star Schools mobile app makes it easier than ever to stay connected with your school community. Get the latest school and district news, event updates, student highlights, and important alerts—all in one place. Learn more.

Download the app:

An email will be sent home on a regular basis to remind parents of important dates and events. Please make sure to keep your email address updated through Infinite Campus so you receive these important messages. Students will not be allowed to use the office phone to make after school social arrangements. Students are allowed to utilize the designated student phone in the main lobby to contact parents or guardians. Students will be allowed to use the phone only in the following situations:

• When requested by their teacher
• When requested by an administrator
• When requested by the health aide, nurse or office staff School office staff will only deliver emergency messages to students.

Please assist us by making arrangements for after school pick-up prior to your child leaving for school in the morning. Response to parent phone calls/emails will be made within one business day.

Students are not allowed to express affection through holding hands, kissing, inappropriate embracing or walking in the halls with arms around each other’s waist or shoulders.

Field trips to nearby points of interest may be scheduled by various classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and to introduce students to resources within the community. Parents will receive notice of scheduled field trips well in advance.

Parents must sign a permission form for all field trips. Students without a permission slip will not be allowed to accompany their class on the field trip.

Free and Reduced Benefits help families and their schools.

Here's How:

• Boosts School Funding: Schools receive additional funding from the state to enhance the educational experience for all students. Your child's school can receive more than $1,100 per qualifying student, directly enhancing the educational experience for all.

• Reduces School Fees: Families can receive 50% off select fees or not have to pay them at all. These include athletic fees, course fees, and activity and field trip fees tied to the curriculum. See the Fees Schedule
• Supports High Schoolers: High school students can receive discounts and/or tuition-relief when preparing for their future; which may include course fees, post-graduation planning, scholarships, state and national testing (including SAT, ACT, AP and IB), and post-secondary enrollment.

• Access to Community Resources: Families can qualify for additional resources, such as medical, food and cash assistance, and discounted services like internet

Families must reapply for free and reduced benefits every new school year.

Learn more & apply today!

Academic Information

Your student’s schedule contains six classes, four of which are considered core classes. These classes consist of math, language arts, science and social studies. Core teachers work together as a team to ensure that your student’s academic, social and emotional needs are met. Each core meets weekly to discuss student concerns and plan units of instruction. It is important that you contact a core teacher or counselor as soon as possible if you have concerns about your student’s academic performance or school engagement in order to establish appropriate, timely interventions for your child to be successful.

Grading Tenets

1. These grading tenets were implemented in the 2024-25 school year in all grade levels and content areas.

2. One aggregate grade will be reported for each class on an A, B, C, D, F scale with no + or - designations.

3. The following percentage scale will be used for the aggregate grade:

• A (100-89.5%), A= Demonstrates mastery of the standard
• B (89-79.5%), B=Meets the standard
• C (79-69.5%), C=Approaching the standard
• D (69-59.5), D= Below standard
• F (below 59.5%). F= Insufficient Data to determine a grade

4. Grades will be calculated for each GRC covered in a grading period (those GRC not covered in a grading period will not be calculated in final grade). For example in science the GRCs are life, physical, earth and science and engineering practices. If only 3 are covered in semester one then these three GRC will be used to determine the student’s aggregate grade.

5. All assignments/assessments that are entered into Infinite Campus must be scored using a rubric with four scoring criteria. The lowest score a student may receive a completed assignment/assessment is 50%. All rubrics will be scored using a 10 point scale. For end of the unit assessments teachers may use a multiplier of up to 10 to increase the weight of an assessment. Scoring needs to be consistent within grade level common course teams at each school. Rubric scores will be converted as follows: A=8.95-10 points B=7.95-8.94 points C=6.95-7.94 points D=5.95-6.94 points No student will receive lower than a 5 on any completed assessment.

6. If an assignment/assessment is not completed, it will be scored as a missing assignment (M). M converts to 50%. In order to run the missing assignment report educators must enter the (M) for missing assignments.

7. All assignment/assessment scores will be reported in Infinite Campus using the number of points earned, points possible and percentages.

8. No extra credit will be allowed. 

9. All assignments/assessments will be aligned to standards in the district’s guaranteed and viable curriculum.

10. Before a grade can be calculated at least three assessments must be included in the Infinite Campus.

11. Formative feedback practices will be used repeatedly during instruction in alignment with instructional best practices (e.g. written and/or verbal comments, student exemplars, peer modeling, self-assessment, peer assessment, etc.) to inform students about their attainment of standards.

12. In order to utilize formative feedback, students will be offered multiple opportunities to either correct or retake assessments within a reasonable time period provided that students meet reasonable expectations prescribed by the teacher (e.g. attend a help session, complete any missed formative work, etc.).

13. Multiple opportunities will be given to retake or correct an assessment before final grade has been determined for the GRC(s).

14. Teachers may make a professional judgment that an assessment is not valid and can exempt/exclude that score from grading calculations because it is no longer representative of student performance.

15. Non-academic factors (e.g. participation, effort, behavior, etc.) will not be factored into the grading system.

16. All other district grading policies including, but not limited to, absences, awarding incomplete grades, and parent communication will be followed.

**All assignments are assessments of student learning and therefore these terms are used synonymously in these tenets. Please don’t hesitate to inquire how marks for your child were determined if you are unsure.

Official notification of progress towards GRCs will be given at the quarter mark and at the end of each semester; however, marks can be accessed through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at any time. Follow the links provided on our school website to gain access.

Academic awards will be calculated using a cumulative GPA from the beginning of middle school. This is subject to change. Academic Achievement 3.5-3.74 Academic Excellence 3.75-4.0

Student grades can be accessed through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at any time. 

If a teacher feels that it is necessary for a student to leave class, the student must have a hall pass. Students in the halls during class time without a pass will be sent back to the classroom. Students must make visits to the restrooms and drinking fountains during the passing periods and not expect to use class time for these purposes.

Homework should be used for practicing of skills learned in class or preparing for the next class, not of teaching of new material or as motivation. Therefore, while homework is not calculated in the final grade, it is critical in helping teachers drive their instruction and identify student weaknesses. This could be compared to sports in that practice (homework) prepares the athlete for the game, but does not count toward the final outcome of the game. Homework is any assignment given by the teacher that is required to be completed outside of class. Homework is not an assignment that is done in the classroom. Homework is in addition to class work. 

Types of homework: 

• Practice – The goal is to master a skill, not to acquire new information; 
• Preparation – The goal is to access prior knowledge about a new topic; 
• Elaboration – The goal is to require students to engage in activities that extend their knowledge.

Indoor recess will be called if:

• snow, rain or sleet is falling
• temperature with the wind chill is 20 degrees or less
• playground conditions are poor (mud, snow or standing water)

Students must be prepared for all types of weather. They should bring warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, weatherproof footwear and an extra pair of shoes for PE.

The school is proud to offer a variety of student activities outside the regular school program. Students are encouraged to become involved in such activities. Involvement fosters school pride, a stronger sense of belonging at school and better appreciation of the total school program. 

Because of this, we encourage every student to participate in at least one activity outside of the regular classroom. These activities are held before or after school and may require parents to sign permission forms or provide transportation to and from the activity. For safety and supervision reasons, it is important that students arrive and be picked up promptly at prescribed times.

Explore our clubs & activities 

School-sponsored clubs are designed based upon student interest. A student must attend at least four full classes during the school day to take part in student activities. Any student with an unexcused absence will not be permitted to appear at or in a school activity of any type. A suspended student may not attend or participate in any student activities during the period of suspension.

Whenever possible/practical, students should be given multiple opportunities to demonstrate their current level of understanding and mastery of standards. Multiple opportunities may mean the retaking of a summative assessment on which the student has not demonstrated proficiency. However, it may also mean that a particular concept can be reassessed later in the unit or another unit as part of a spiraling learning process without the actual retaking of an assessment. 

• In order to utilize formative feedback, students will be offered multiple opportunities to either correct or retake assessments within a reasonable time period provided that students meet reasonable expectations prescribed by the teacher (e.g. attend a help session, complete any missed formative work, etc.).
• Multiple opportunities will be given to retake or correct an assessment before final grade has been determined for the GRC(s).
• If an assignment/assessment is not completed, it will be scored as a missing assignment (M). M converts to 50%.
• Teachers may make a professional judgment that an assessment is not valid and can exempt/exclude that score from grading calculations because it is no longer representative of student performance.

Retakes

Students are eligible for a retake on most assessments*, provided they meet the following: 

1. The student participates in a form of relearning decided upon by the teacher. Additional learning may be required of the student, as well as possible additional instruction from the teacher. 
2. The student has completed all required and associated formative coursework.
3. The student has not demonstrated understanding at a proficient level (3 or higher). 

*Students will not be allowed to “redo” or “retake” a summative assessment such as products, projects, extended writing assessments, etc. that have periodic formative checkpoints leading to the summative assessment. 

Students must complete retakes no later than two weeks following the receipt of summative assessment results and/or within two weeks of unit completion. The score on a retake will not replace the original score; however, it will be used as another piece of data when analyzing the body of evidence before assigning an overall mark on the report card. 

Lockers are the property of the District. The school may search student lockers on a periodic basis to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all students. Lockers are supplied to students free of charge to store books, coats, backpacks/bags, school supplies and school related items. 

Students may decorate their lockers with appropriate pictures, mirrors, shelves, magnets, etc., as long as such items can be easily removed without permanent damage to the locker. Writing in or on the locker is not permitted. All pictures and posters hung in lockers must meet District standards. Students having troubles with lockers should report problems to the school registrar before or after school. 

It is suggested that you do not keep valuable items in your locker. Your combination should not be shared and should remain private. Moving to another locker without permission of the registrar is prohibited and will result in assignment of consequences. Private locks are prohibited, unless approval is given by school administration, and will be cut off the locker. The school is not responsible for items contained in lockers. Items found in lockers not assigned to students will be discarded.

We are proud of our school and show our pride by taking care of our building. You can add to our pride by keeping classrooms, lockers, halls and restrooms clean. You can help make the school a pleasant place to be by respecting student’s and staff’s personal property.

Large amounts of money, expensive jewelry or watches and other valuable possessions should not be brought to school. At no time will the school assume responsibility for valuables. All lost and found items (other than clothing) are to be turned in to the school office. Clothing items should be placed in the box in the cafeteria and any unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity.

If your child misplaces an item, we encourage you to look in the lost and found by the main office. Often it is difficult to identify what they have lost. Please label coats, jackets, mittens, etc.

Remaining articles are donated to a local charity several times a year.

We highly discourage students from bringing valuables and toys to school. Items having value for one individual usually have an attractive appeal for others and unfortunately sometimes disappear. The school cannot be responsible for these items. Teachers may have a special celebration which allows students to bring in a favorite game, stuffed animal, etc. but please remember, at no time is it appropriate for students to bring toy guns, toy knives, or toy weapons of any kind.

All students enrolled in Adams 12 Five Star Schools can receive a FREE breakfast and lunch. Additional items such as snacks, beverages, and extra servings of our healthy entrée and side items are available for purchase a la carte.

Access menus and/or add funds for a la carte items:

SchoolCafe Family Hub

For more information about dietary needs, wellness policy and more, visit Nutrition Services.

Parent and family involvement are critical to the success of our students and our school. Families can be involved and engaged by reviewing their child’s work and assignments, talking with their child about their day and learning, volunteering, attending school events and functions, belonging to PTO, etc. If you are looking for ways to become more involved and engaged, please visit the school’s PTO website.

In an effort to keep our school feeling safe for all students and families and in accordance with District Policy 1220, only service animals and therapy dogs are permitted on school property. District policy requires prior authorization from the principal to have a therapy dog on school property. We ask that all other pets remain off school grounds during school hours. We appreciate your cooperation with this request.

Please keep the following traffic safety information in mind as you are driving near our school:

• Refer to the map of our school for designated drop-off locations.
• Watch for children running into the street, particularly from between parked cars.
• Be alert for children at designated school crossings and other crosswalk locations.
• Obey speed limits, especially school zone speed limits during school hours. Take your time!
• Do not stop or park on or near crosswalks or other designated “NO PARKING” zones.
• Do not block school bus loading zones, crosswalks, intersections, or traffic lanes while waiting to pick up your child.
• Respect the “NO PARKING” and “NO STOPPING OR STANDING” signs. They are there to ensure the safety of your children.
• Do not make U-turns in school zones or within crosswalks.
• Consider carpooling to reduce the amount of congestion around the school

Your child’s progress will be reported at individual parent conferences at least twice a year. Report cards are sent home at the end of each grading period. Academic progress can also be found via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to us. It is imperative that students are dropped off no earlier than 8:20 a.m. and picked up at 4:30 p.m. Adult supervision is only available 10 minutes before and after these times.

Please help us keep students safe:

• Always use sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Drop off and pick up of students is along the curb only, so they don’t have to cross traffic other than at the crosswalk. Hug and Go lanes are located on the XXXXX side of the school.
• Avoid picking up or dropping off student in the parking lots.
• Avoid parking within 15 feet of school crosswalks.
• Parents should encourage children to adhere to all safety rules established for pedestrians. This emphasis on safety is also a concern of the school’s staff, and is an important part of the instructional program.
• Students are expected to go directly to and from school. They are to respect the rights and property of all people in the neighborhood.

In our ongoing efforts to provide the safest and most secure environment for our students, an additional security measure has been installed, which requires the following safety measures.

• ALL exterior doors will be locked at all times.
• Please do not open the door or hold the door open for others.
• In order to enter the building, you will need to press the button located [describe location of button for school entry].
• An office member will release the doors, allowing access to the building.
• Once entering the building, ALL visitors must check in at the office, show ID, and obtain a visitor pass.
• If you would like to wait with your child before school or wait for your child after school, you will need to wait outside.
• Remind your child to use sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Drop off and pick up of students is along the curb only, so they don’t have to cross traffic other than at the crosswalk. Hug and Go lanes are located on the North side of the school.
• Avoid picking up or dropping off students in the parking lots.
• Avoid parking within 15 feet of school crosswalks.
• Parents should encourage children to adhere to all safety rules established for pedestrians. This emphasis on safety is also a concern of the school’s staff, and is an important part of the instructional program.
• Students are expected to go directly to and from school. They are to respect the rights and property of all people in the neighborhood.

In any event where you have safety concerns for yourself or others, you can:

• Contact school Administration
• Contact a member of the school’s Social Emotional Learning Team
• Contact a trusted adult
• Submit a Safe2Tell report

Safety and Emergency Drills

Preparation is the key to effective response in case of an emergency. Drills help our staff and students respond quickly, calmly and safely to a number of situations. District Policy 3510: Emergency Response outlines drill requirements. 

Types of drills:

• Fire - monthly
• Lockdown - 2x a year 
• Shelter - 2x a year

Learn more about:

• The Standard Response Protocol (SRP)
• How we communicate during an emergency
• A parent's role in an emergency

Learn all about Safety & Security in Adams 12

In our ongoing efforts to provide the safest and most secure environment for our students, an additional security measure has been installed, which requires the following safety measures.

• ALL exterior doors will be locked at all times.
• Please do not open the door or hold the door open for others.
• In order to enter the building, you will need to press the button located in the main entry vestibule on the right side wall.
• An office member will release the doors, allowing access to the building.
• Once entering the building, ALL visitors must check in at the office, show ID, and obtain a visitor pass.
• If you would like to wait with your child before school or wait for your child after school, you will need to wait outside.

We are proud of our school and show our pride by taking care of our building. You can add to our pride by keeping classrooms, lockers, halls and restrooms clean. You can help make the school a pleasant place to be by respecting student’s and staff’s personal property. 

Large amounts of money, expensive jewelry or watches and other valuable possessions should not be brought to school. At no time will the school assume responsibility for valuables. All lost and found items (other than clothing) are to be turned in to the school office. Clothing items should be placed in the box in the cafeteria and any unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity.

Students are required to wear their school-issued ID on a lanyard around their neck and visible to school personnel at all times while on school property. Refusal to wear their ID will result in consequences as outlined in the District’s student discipline matrix. Students who fail to wear their IDs will be required to come to the office for a temporary ID. A replacement ID will be issued after three temporary IDs were issued in one school year.

Replacement IDs are $5.00.

District Policy 1200 requires that all parents and visitors must present a drivers license/I.D. at the front desk and sign in at the office upon entering the building. Your license will be scanned through our Raptor system and a visitor’s badge/sticker will be provided. You will be asked to wear a visitor’s badge/sticker at all times.

If you would like to spend time with a teacher, please call and make arrangements prior to visiting. Also, if anyone other than a parent or legal guardian will be visiting the school (such as a grandparent coming for lunch) you must call the office ahead of time to let us know.

In the event of bad weather, Adams 12 Five Star Schools uses a variety of resources to determine if conditions exist that warrant a 1-hour delayed start or closure of schools.

Every effort will be made to announce a decision by 5:30 a.m. to close or delay opening schools. 

Alerts are ONLY sent if schools are closed or operating on a 1-hour delay. If schools are operating on a normal schedule you will not receive an alert.

Learn more about the district’s 1-Hour Delay and School Closure process.