Parent/Student Handbook 2016-2017
DESERT THUNDER SCHOOL
Home of the Eagles
16750 W. Garfield Avenue
Goodyear, AZ 85338
School website: dt.avondale.k12.az.us
Desert Thunder’s School Mission
* New as of July 2016 - Desert Thunder School is a community that exists to empower our students to become thinkers, problem solvers and communicators to ensure they are leaders on a pathway to success.
Desert Thunder School’s Spanish Dual Language Immersion Mission StatementIn the Desert Thunder Dual Language Program, we empower ourstudents to become citizens of a global society who are bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural, while achieving high levels of academic success.
School & District Telephone Numbers
School Office ………………………………...…..…… 623-772-4700
Attendance Line …………………………….………... 623-772-4701
School Fax …………………………………………… 623-772-4720
District Office ……………………………………….... 623-772-5000
District Operations …………………………………… 623-772-5070
District Transportation ..………………………….….. 623-772-5065
School Office Personnel
Principal………………………………....…….. Wayne Deffenbaugh
Assistant Principal ………………….…….…. Jessica Worthington
School Psychologist ……………………….…...… Teresa Valledor
Counselor………………………………….…….…….Katrina Saenz
School Secretary ..…………………….…………..…...Ronda Lung
School Secretary …………… ………………… Becki Amezquita
School Nurse…………….……………………… Rhonda Smorong
The Desert Thunder School campus is open at 7:00 AM.
School Office Hours Student Hours
7:00 – 3:45 PM K-8 7:30 - 3:00 (M, Tu, Th, Fri)
K-8 7:30 – 11:45 (Wed)
Breakfast Hours
7:00 – 7:25 AM
Student Drop-Off
· PLEASE DO NOT DROP STUDENTS OFF PRIOR TO 7:00 AM. NO SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE MADE WITH STAFF FOR TUTORING, BAND/CHORUS PRACTICE, ETC.
· THE STUDENT DROP-OFF AREA IS LOCATED OFF OF GARFIELD AVENUE.
· PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THE MAIN PARKING LOT. YOU MUST PARK AND WALK STUDENTS ONTO CAMPUS WHEN COMING INTO THE PARKING LOT.
Closed Campus
Once students arrive at school in the morning, they are expected to stay on campus for the entire day. Students will only be permitted to leave when your parent or guardian comes to pick them up for special reasons. Parents are to sign their student out in the office prior to leaving campus. Any other arrangements must be cleared by the administration.
Visitors to the Campus
Desert Thunder School welcomes and encourages parents and community members to visit the school at any time. ALL VISITORS, (INCLUDING PARENTS), MUST CHECK IN AT THE SCHOOL OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE SCHOOL. This includes when dropping their students off before the bell rings. This procedure will be new this year to ensure a safe campus. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION. Anyone having business to conduct on campus must first report to the office. As a courtesy, if a conference with school personnel is needed, Please call for an appointment. Visitors will be issued an identification badge.
Students who are not enrolled in school may not participate in classroom activities, field trips, dances or other after-school activities. No person shall visit a classroom or other school activity without the approval of the principal. Failure to comply with this requirement is in violation of the law (POLICY KI-R).
Sign Out / In Procedures
Occasionally, parents may need to take their child home before the usual dismissal time. Parents must get office permission before taking a child out of class. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE SIGNED OUT FROM THE OFFICE. THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASED FROM THE CLASSROOM. This is a safety precaution to ensure that no unauthorized person may take any child. The student will not be allowed to walk home prior to dismissal time. No student will be released from school to any person other than the parent or legal guardian unless the school has positive proof that the parent having custody or legal guardianship has given permission for the release. In the event parents are legally separated, the school shall release the student only with the consent of the parent who has custody.
Extra Curricular Activities
Throughout the year, there are extra curricular activities offered for our students. Activities may include dances, field trips, field day, after school clubs/tutoring, and sports. These activities are a privilege. Desert Thunder teaching staff and administration have the right to revoke these privileges if any behavior or academic concerns arise with a student.
Students receiving any behavior reports, behavior referrals, disciplinary suspensions or unexcused/unverified absences will jeopardize their privilege to attend school dances. Student receiving any ACP or At Home Suspensions since the last dance will not be allowed to attend the current dance. Behavioral Referrals may jeopardize a student from attending a dance. Students must be in attendance for at least half of the school day in order to attend a dance. Site administration and staff will speak with students regarding their attendance at a dance.
Student Technology
Cell phones, iPods, iPads, Kindles, or ANY KIND OF ELECTRONIC GAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED AT SCHOOL! This means, out of site, out of mind. As soon as students walk on campus, their technology is to be put away and turned off. We do allow students to carry cell phones in their pockets. However, if the technology becomes an interruption to instruction or is out where a staff member can see a student with the technology, then students may be referred for disciplinary consequences. Unauthorized items may be confiscated and held until the student’s parent/guardian comes to claim them. DESERT THUNDER SCHOOL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF UNAUTHORIZED ITEMS ARE LOST OR STOLEN.
Eating/Drinking in Classrooms
Food or drink brought or consumed by students in the classrooms is not allowed. We do encourage students to bring water bottles, just not any other liquid drinks. Teachers and administration will make allowances for special circumstances.
No gum is allowed on campus.
Attendance
ARIZONA CUMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW: Students must be in school until they reach the age of 16 or successfully complete the 10th grade (A.R.S. 15-802). Students should be on time and present at school unless they are ill or there is any emergency. Students may not participate in after school activities or dances unless they have been in school for at least half of the school day.
Avondale Schools have a closed campus policy. Students must stay all day, unless they are checked out through the office by a parent, guardian or designee. (See General Information – Sign in/Sign Out)
Absences
The following procedures are designed to keep the school and parents informed about absences (POLICY JH-R)
· Notify school before 7:30 AM if your child is going to be absent. Send a note with another child or phone the school office at 623-772-4700/4701.
· When a child is absent and no message has been received from parents, someone from the school will phone the parents.
· Send a note to the child’s teacher explaining the reason for the absence or return the absence verification form.
· We do have an automated calling system that will call between 7:50-8:00 if your child is absent from school. We need verification why your child is not in school for the day each time they are absent.
Excused absences include bereavement, medical reasons and religious holidays. Please do not send children to school when they appear to be ill. The health of all children depends on keeping contagious diseases isolated at home.
Truancy
School attendance is not only a good habit; state law requires it (A.R.S. 15-802). To encourage and improve school attendance, all schools in our district will again take part in a truancy program in partnership with Maricopa County Juvenile Court. This truancy program is called C.U.T.S. (Court Unified Truancy Suppression). The education of your child is extremely important to us. This program is another way that Desert Thunder and the Avondale Schools are working with the community to ensure a quality education for all students. More information regarding the C.U.T.S. program will be available.
Tardy Policy
As regular attendance is important, a student’s prompt arrival and being prepared for the day’s activities is also essential. Needless tardies cause disruption to the classroom routine and interfere with a student’s learning. The first bell rings at 7:30 am. School begins at 7:30 each morning and students are expected to be in class ready to learn at this time. If a student arrives after the tardy bell at 7:35, they will need to obtain a late pass from the office. All students arriving after 7:35 will be considered tardy and subject to the tardy policy. There will not be excused or unexcused tardies. Tardy is tardy and will be counted as a tardy.
Each staff member is responsible for consistent enforcement of the tardy policy. If a student abuses the tardy policy, appropriate disciplinary action will be applied.
Consequences for Tardiness (By Quarter)
First through third grade – conversation/communication from teacher/office staff/admin.
Fourth tardy – After School Detention (4-8th grade), Lunch Detention (K-3rd grade)
Fifth tardy – Student referred to administration for disciplinary consequences.
.
Please make sure your children are on time to school. Their academic success increases greatly when they at school everyday and are on time!
Student Grades
Kindergarten – 5th Grades
The Avondale Elementary School District is in alignment with the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards in grades K-8. The K-5 report cards are aligned with these standards and have been designed to give the maximum amount of information in a clear format. The scale is based on E-Exceeds, M-Meets, AP-Approaching, FB – Falling below. Parent information/curriculum nights are planned to explain the report cards in more detail.
6th – 8th Grades
The grade earned and given to each pupil shall is determined by the teacher. In the absence of a clerical or mechanical mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetence, the grade shall be final. Therefore, questions about grades should be directed to the teacher. Parents wishing to discuss grades with the teacher may call the school and request a conference with the teacher.
The following guidelines for grading will be followed:
· The grade the student receives will reflect an evaluation of his / her performance. It will also determine the extent to which the student is progressing from a given point in proportion to his / her own abilities.
· The teacher will use every means possible to arrive at a fair and impartial judgment of each student and his/her work.
· A 100 - 90% Excellent
· B 89 - 80% Above Average
· C 79 - 70% Average
· D 69 - 60% Below Average
· F 59-below Failing
Report Cards / Progress Reports
Each student's educational progress is evaluated regularly and reported to parents / guardians four times each year. Report cards are issued at the end of each nine (9) week quarter. Progress reports will be issued approximately every 4th/5th week of each nine-week reporting period.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parents have access through ParentVue to track their child’s progress. A log in is available for every parent. Parents are welcome to meet with their student's teacher(s) for a conference at any time during the school year. Conferences may be arranged by calling school office or sending a note to the child's teacher. Formal conferences between parents and teachers are scheduled at the end of the first grading period (October) and the end of the third grading period (March).
Honor Roll
(Grades 4-5)
High academic achievement should be a goal for everyone. If this goal is accomplished, students will be recognized for outstanding effort. Students who earn all Meets with no behavior grade below an S will qualify for Honor Roll status. Students who earn 3 out of 5 exceeds with no behavior grade below an S will qualify for Principal’s Honor Roll.
(Grades 6-8)
Again, high academic achievement should be a goal for everyone. If this goal is accomplished, students will be recognized for outstanding effort. Students who earn all A’s and B’s with no behavior grade below an S will qualify for A/B Honor Roll status. Students who earn all A’s with no behavior grade below an S will qualify for Principal’s Honor Roll.
STUDENT DRESS
New students who enter District schools will have one week to purchasestandard school clothing. During this time period, the school may donate the use of one uniform set per child. All students in Kindergarten through eighth grade who attend the District schools are expected to dress in the proper standard school attire. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure compliance with the dress code. All students who attend the District schools must dress in accordance with this dress code.
All students will wear the standard school clothing. The clothing may not be altered in a manner that includes, but is not limited to, slits and shredded hems. The standard school clothing shall be:
For Boys:
· All solid white, solid light gray, solid hunter green, solid navy blue, or solid light pink shirts with lay-down collar. No logos or labels showing on the shirt. This may include, but is not limited to, a “polo” shirt and dress shirt. All shirts must be tucked in at all times.
· Solid navy blue or tan shorts/slacks. No logos, or outer pockets showing on pants. No blue jeans, blue-jean shorts, cargo pants, or sweat pants, or stretchy type material.
For Girls:
· All solid white, solid light gray, solid hunter green, solid navy blue, or solid light pink shirts with lay-down collar. No logos or labels showing on the top. This may include, but not be limited to, a blouse or “polo”. All shirts must be tucked in at all times.
· Solid navy blue or tan pants, shorts, skorts, skirts, jumpers, capri pants, and bib overalls. No logos or labels showing. No blue jeans, blue-jean shorts, cargo pants, sweat pants, or stretchy type material.
More guidelines for dress:
· Baggy or oversized clothing is not acceptable and this is prohibited. Clothing may not be more than one size too large, to allow for one-year’s growth. No sagging of clothing is allowed. Pants must fit at the waist and not drag on the ground. Shorts must not be shorter than the middle of the thigh nor longer than the bottom of the knee. Skirts and shorts must not be shorter than the middle of the thigh.
· Belts (if worn) must be black, brown, or navy and may not be more than one size larger than the waist. Belts must be worn at the waist and cannot hang below the waist. Belts and buckles must be plain with no designs or logos.