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Handbook

Montezuma Student/Parent Handbook

This Student/Parent Handbook has been created for you to help your student be successful in school.

Attendance

Attendance line: (505) 260-2040.

The New Mexico Compulsory Attendance Law dictates that students between the ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age are mandated to attend public school, private school, home school or a state institution. Definitions related to the new law:

  • “Habitual truant” refers to a student who has accumulated the equivalent of ten or more unexcused absences within a school year.
  • “Unexcused absence” is an absence from school or a class for which the student does not have an appropriate excuse provided by parent/guardian. Family vacations are considered unexcused absences, and it is expected that parents will schedule vacations during periods of time when school is not in session.
  • “Excused absence” includes the following: doctor’s appointment, death in the family, religious commitment, illness, family emergency, diagnostic testing, and/or school sponsored events. Doctor’s notes will be required after 3 continuous days of absence and/or for doctor’s appointments.
  • The parent/guardian must notify the school each day that the student will be absent. In the event that the school has not received notification of absence by a parent/guardian it will be considered an unexcused absence.

Review our Student Handbook and the APS Attendance Policy for more information.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

Personal electronic devices should be kept out of sight and silenced or powered off during the instructional day.

Personal electronic devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, pagers, smart phones, music and media players, gaming devices, tablets, laptop computers and personal digital assistants.

Devices will be confiscated if a student violates this policy. Teachers will turn the confiscated device into the office and the device will be locked in the vault.

  • First offense: device is held one day.
  • Second offense: device is held seven days.
  • Third offense: device is held until end of the semester.

Review the APS Personal Electronic Devices Policy for more information.

Dress Code

The Board of Education expects dress and grooming to reflect high standards and promote a positive, safe, and healthy atmosphere within the school. Student dress may not present a health or safety hazard, violate municipal or state law, or present a potential for disruption to the instructional program.

School dress should be comfortable, functional (warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather) and generally based on good taste. Clothing that is worn to draw attention to one’s self should be avoided.

Students may not wear/have:

  • short shorts (inseams should be 4” or longer)
  • halter tops, low cut or off the shoulder blouses, or spaghetti straps
  • excessively tight or revealing clothing
  • clothing with vulgar slogans or pictures
  • clothing which advertises, displays, or promotes any drug, including alcohol or tobacco, sexual activity, violence, disrespect, and/or bigotry towards any group
  • gang associated clothing
  • chains, spiked jewelry, clothing related to or displaying satanic or violent symbols or pictures
  • excessively long belts
  • tank tops with oversized arm holes
  • visible tattos, including non-permanent tattoos
  • visible piercings other than ears
  • hair with unnatural colors; i.e., green, blue, orange, etc.
  • pants worn lower than 2’ below the navel
  • excessively baggy pants or pants with low hanging crotches
  • tight shorts or spandex shorts unless worn with a top long enough to reach the tips of their fingers.
  • Hats/caps, visors, or sunglasses may not be worn inside buildings, except when there are specific instructional, safety, religious, or medical reasons.
  • make-up or false/acrylic nails
  • clothing that allows bare skin to be exposed at the waist or allows undergarments to be expose
  • Mohawk Hair Cuts – Faux Cuts that are 1” long or less are appropriate

Students who violate the dress code will be asked to:

  • turn shirts which are objectionable inside out
  • wear an overshirt which will be provided by the school for one day
  • not wear the same clothing to school again
  • wash out non-permanent hair color at school or home
  • dye hair to natural color if permanent hair color is used
  • wash off make-up

Parents will be contacted in the case of violations of the dress code.

Review the complete APS Student Dress policy.

Positive Behavior Support Program

We have implemented a positive behavior system starting on the first day of school. Routines, procedures, and rules to govern relationships are the foundation of a loving, structured environment that all children need to learn and grow.

During the first few days of school all students participated in a school wide assembly and specific lessons that focused on expectations in the different areas around school. Clear expectations are the foundation of the program and essential for success. Students will be rewarded for making good choices and meeting expectations with coupons called "Cougar Paws!" Rewards for cougar paws and assemblies celebrating success will be held on a regular basis.

We appreciate your support of our behavior program. The goal of positive behavior support is to make Montezuma a safe. successful, and comfortable school!