FAMILY HANDBOOK

13524 Acres Green Drive

Littleton, CO 80124

303-387-7125

Welcome!

Welcome to Acres Green Elementary - Home of the Panthers! Visit our school website to learn more!

Our mission is to create leaders, one child at a time. We help every student discover their true potential by teaching the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey through a program called The Leader in Me. Leadership is what is at the heart of everything we do at AGE.

We want to connect with you, our families! Here are some ways for you to get involved:

Read the Weekly Emails/Text Messages from Principal Sola
Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) Monthly Meetings

There are lots of ways to get involved with fundraising and school activities!
Check out the school calendar for meeting days and times

School Accountability Committee (SAC) Quarterly Meetings

Join us for more information about the school, have an opportunity to provide feedback for school decisions, and “be in the know” about what’s happening at the district.

Classroom Volunteers

Connect with your child’s teacher (you can find their email on the school website)

Field Trip Volunteers

connect with your child’s teacher (you can find their email on the school website)

Field Day Volunteers

Connect with Coach Cutter

Lunch and Recess Volunteers

Help supervise students during lunch and recess
Contact the main office for more information

Drop Off and Pick Up Information

School Schedule

8:20-8:35am

Students start arriving

8:35am

First bell rings

8:40am

Second bell rings
Teachers take attendance and tardies are counted

3:30pm

Third bell rings
All students leave for the day
If you are going to be late picking up, call the office ASAP to let us know the plan for getting your child home.

If you need to pick up your child early (ex: doctor appointment), we will call your student out of class once you arrive. If you are in a time crunch, call the office when you are on your way and we can have your student waiting for you.

Standard Response Protocol

Safety is our top priority at Acres Green Elementary and in Douglas County School District. We utilize the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to help us prepare for a wide variety of potential situations. This comes from the i love u guys Foundation and is based on five actions.

School Direction	What does this mean for you?
LOCKOUT! Secure the Perimeter Crisis is OUTSIDE the building School day can continue as usual Students/Staff should stay in the building	Do NOT come to the school. Our doors will be locked and no one will be allowed inside until the issue has cleared. Check your texts and emails frequently for information and updates from the school.
LOCKDOWN! Locks, Lights, Out of Sight Crisis is INSIDE the building Doors should be locked Lights are turned off Students/Staff should hide Wait for police to give further directions	Do NOT come to the school. Allow emergency vehicles first access. An alternate pick up location will be communicated via email, text, and phone. There will be signs and directions of how/where to pick up your child. Look for AGE and DCSD staff for information and questions. Check your texts and emails frequently for information and updates from the school.
EVACUATE! Crisis is INSIDE the building Students/Staff should exit the building Meet at the appropriate location (baseball field fence unless otherwise announced)	Do NOT come to the school. Allow emergency vehicles first access. If we are evacuated and not allowed back in the building, an alternate pick up location will be communicated via email, text, and phone. Check your texts and emails frequently for information and updates from the school.
SHELTER! Crisis is OUTSIDE the building Students/Staff should take cover in the hallways or other secure locations	Do NOT come to the school. Our doors will be locked and no one will be allowed inside until the issue has cleared. Check your texts and emails frequently for information and updates from the school.
HOLD! Crisis is INSIDE the building, but only in a specific location Students/Staff should stay in their rooms, but can continue working	You are welcome to come to the main office. We can call students from “open” areas to come down, but will need to wait until the issue has cleared for any area that is in a “Hold!”

The school/district provides as much information as possible in a timely manner via text and email. The office staff will answer phone calls as they come in, but the information will be the same as in the texts/emails and are sent as new information develops.

Lightning Dismissal

During severe weather DCSD schools should take actions to ensure the well-being of students and staff. This includes bringing everyone inside and considering the delayed arrival or dismissal of students.

The District follows CHSAA’s lightning guidelines, which state that outdoor activities shall be suspended and personnel moved indoors when lightning is within an eight mile radius (determined by Weather Bug). Activities shall remain suspended until there is no lightning within that eight mile radius for at least 30 minutes.

Pick Up During Lightning Dismissal Procedures

Parents/Guardians or other adults over the age of 18, who have been given permission in Infinite Campus, may pick up their children/younger siblings during a lightning delay at their own risk. Siblings under the age of 18 coming to pick up a younger sibling will be asked to stay in the building during the delay and will NOT be released. (At times, high school students are able to leave the premises under their own accord, but they will not be allowed to remove younger siblings from a building in the event of lightning delay.)

Buses are often not an option during Lightning Dismissal. They get delayed at the High School and Middle School do not arrive at Acres Green until most students have already been picked up. All parents should plan to pick up their child(ren) during lightning dismissals.

Frequently Used Apps

Infinite Campus Link

What do I use Infinite Campus (IC) for as a parent?

View your student's assignments (MS and HS Only)
Grades (MS and HS Only)
Class schedule
Attendance
Student Personal Profiles

EngagED Parent Portal Link

What do I use EngagED for as a parent?

Complete Express Check-In
Submit a SMART Tag (bus pass) application
Access elementary progress reports
View your student's enrollment status
Testing Excusal Form
Open Enrollment

My School Bucks Link

What do I use MySchoolBucks for as a parent?

Top up your student's lunch account balance, including funds for snack cart and double lunch servings
Pay fees for transportation, activities, athletics, and field trips
Pay for a Yearbook

SmartTag Link

What do I use SmartTag for as a parent?

Bus Riders
Pay for rides
Track your student while on the bus

Nutrislice Link

What do I use Nutrislice for as a parent?

Find your school's daily lunch menu.

MySchoolBucks Tutorial

MySchoolBucks.com, or MSB, is the site you will go to pay for school fees, field trips, AGE sponsored clubs/groups and meal balances.

You will create a username and password to use for this account and each of your DCSD students will need to be added to your account. By doing so, you will be able to see the invoices assigned to them and the School Store products available to them.

What is the difference between an invoice and a School Store product in MSB?

An invoice will be assigned to individual students based on DCSD fee and grade level requirements and other fees due on behalf of your student. These invoices will show in your MSB account Notifications box and via your email. Examples of invoices are the District Materials Fee, student planner fee, lost library book fee and unpaid field trip fees.

A School Store product will not be billed directly to your student like an invoice but must be purchased via the School Store drop down in your MSB account. You will add these products to your School Store cart and check out with them like you would with another online retail store account. We also use the School Store for field trip permission slips and liability forms. Examples of School Store products are AGE field trips, AGE school sponsored clubs/groups, and the gym Rock Climbing Wall liability form.

If the product cost is $0 or if your student receives Free/Reduced meal benefits and your field trip cost is $0, you still need to complete the permission slip and check out with a $0 product in your cart.

How to sign up for a MSB School Store product:

Below is an example of how to sign up for a field trip in MSB:

If you are accessing myschoolbucks.com using the app on your phone, you have to click the top right corner with the 3 lines and then click school store > store home. Then you will see the icon.

You can also try to access myschoolbucks.com through a browser on your phone.

Note: The best way to use www.myschoolbucks.com is on your laptop or desktop.

Using your cell phone browser or your computer, you will then access the School Store to find your field trip product. The School Store can be found in the upper right-hand corner of the myschoolbucks.com Home page. You can then find your student’s product under the Featured Items or View All.

When you locate your student’s field trip, click on View Details. This will allow you to sign the field trip permission slip form and pay for the field trip.

If your student receives Free/Reduced meal benefits, your field trip cost is $0. You still need to complete the permission slip and check out with a $0 product in your cart.

EngagED Parent Portal

Infinite Campus

Tutorial Overview:

This tutorial will demonstrate how to sign in and view student and family information in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Para Español, haga clic aqui.

STEP 1:

Navigate to https://www.dcsdk12.org. Select Parents & Students>Parent Portal (infinite Campus)

Step 1

STEP 2:

Use your parent portal credentials to sign in. *These credentials are identical to those used to access the Engaged parent portal.

Step 2

STEP 3:

The previous version presented a screen similar to the one below.

Step 3

STEP 4:

The new version of IC Parent Portal displays in a similar format as the mobile app (Campus Parent). Parent/Guardian specific information displayed on this screen.

Step 4

STEP 5:

Once a student specific data element is selected from the left navigation bar, the student name will appear in the upper right. Use the arrow to select a different student (if applicable).

Step 5

STEP 6:

To access external links, choose More from the left navigation bar and scroll down.

Step 6

STEP 7:

Select the person icon in the upper right to access Settings and Log Off.

Step 7

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact DCSD IT Support at 303-387-0001.

SMART tag™ Bus Pass Information

Students who are eligible for transportation are required to scan their SMART tag bus pass on and off the bus each time they ride. Eligibility information can be found at the DCSD bus route information page

If you do not have a bus pass and are eligible for transportation services, passes can be requested at engaged.dcsdk12.org under the "Manage Transportation" link. If you do not see a link under your student's profile or need to request a replacement card reach out to us via Let's Talk

DO NOT PUNCH HOLES IN THE BUS PASS. You can place the bus pass in a clear plastic sleeve attached to a lanyard if needed. If a card is damaged or lost, a replacement bus pass can be requested at engaged.dcsdk12.org.

Only students that are eligible for transportation can ride the bus. We are unable to accommodate one day bus passes for students to ride home with other students on the bus

Students who receive specialized transportation services do not need to request a SMART tag bus pass. Your student's card will be distributed to their bus driver directly

Bus passes for general education students will be distributed to students by their bus driver after an application has been submitted at engaged.dcsdk12.org. Students may ride in the interim while waiting for their bus pass

Transportation fees are approved by the Board of Education. Rides are $1.00 each way per student. These charges will be billed on a quarterly basis to your student's MySchoolBucks account. Students who receive specialized transportation services or qualify for the free or reduced lunch program will have their fees waived

Click here for Bus Pass Questions

Attendance and Truancy Information

Parking Lot Safety

Student Cell Phone Policy

Student cell phones will be turned off and turned in each day. Cell phones are not to be kept in backpacks. All calls and messages that a family member needs to provide to a student will be submitted through the office. You can call 303-387-7125, and the office staff will make sure each student receives any messages.

1:1 STUDENT DEVICE RESPONSIBLE USE CONTRACT

Acres Green Elementary School is providing every student with either an iPad or a Chromebook. As part of this program, students are expected to maintain a level of responsible use with the devices that support the mission and purpose of the program. The following is a list of expected responsible behaviors for students to engage when using their device.

RESPONSIBLE USE EXPECTATIONS

All aspects of the district’s Acceptable Use Policy and Addendum apply when using the devices.

Students will not be allowed to take their devices home in the evening or weekends.
The devices are an educational tool and should be used in that capacity. Once issued, students are responsible for taking excellent care and caution in the protection, care, and use of the devices.
If a device malfunctions or is in need of repair, students will not attempt repair, but will return it to the school for repair
The devices are property of Acres Green Elementary, and as such, all content (software, email, internet use, etc.) will be monitored.
Students have no expectations of privacy and can expect teachers and administrators to conduct checks of their internet history, documents, etc.

The identification tags on the devices must remain on the devices at all times.
Passwords should be kept confidential.
“Cyberbullying” will not be tolerated. Cyberbullying is bullying by use of any electronic communication device using, but not limited to, email, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, online games, websites, etc.
Students are expected to notify a staff member whenever they come across information or messages that are inappropriate, dangerous, threatening, or make them feel uncomfortable.
Enjoy the use of your device and take advantage of the opportunity it offers to help you in your learning.

GENERAL USAGE PRACTICES

Do not eat or drink near the devices.
Do not place items on any keyboard as accidentally closing the device with items on the keyboard can damage the screen.
Do not mark the device in any way with markers, stickers, etc.
Do not download, copy, or share copyrighted material. This includes music files, images, or software.
Students are prohibited from attempting to bypass the district filter.
Presence of weapons, inappropriate language/symbols, or inappropriate images are not allowed on the device.
Conduct yourself in a socially acceptable and positive manner at all times when using the device, the network, and the Internet.

The use of an Acres Green Elementary Device is a privilege, not a right. As such, Acres Green Elementary reserves the right to discipline, assess fees, and/or revoke access to the devices as deemed necessary for any action in violation of this responsible use contract or violation of the district’s Acceptable Use Policy.

ACRES GREEN ELEMENTARY DEVICE FINES

All technology materials, including but not limited to Chromebooks, issued to students during the school year are property of Acres Green Elementary and are checked periodically for damages. If a device is lost or damaged to the point it cannot be reused or repaired, the student may be responsible for the full replacement cost. Please note: depending on the circumstances, a loaner may be provided.

CHROMEBOOK REPLACEMENT COSTS

Chromebook Replacement $400 (approximately)

Chromebook Screen Replacement $200 (approximately)

Personal Items From Home

The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

In general, we ask that all personal items stay at home. This includes, but is not limited to: stuffed animals, trinkets, toy cars, fidgets, pictures, cameras, cell phones, etc. There may be an occasional exception, such as a class party, show and tell opportunity, or a school-wide theme day. This will always be communicated by a staff member prior to the exception.

No home items are allowed at recess. This includes footballs, soccer balls, frisbees, etc.

Student Dress Code

Students are expected to follow the Douglas County School District Code of Conduct. The dress code can be found on page 18 of the Code of Conduct and relates to Board Policy JICA

The Board recognizes that responsibility for the dress and appearance of students generally rests with individual students and their parents. Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for all school activities. The following general standards will be in effect:

1. Reasonable cleanliness of wearing apparel is expected as a matter of general health and welfare.

2. To avoid injury and disease, shoes, sandals, or boots must be worn in the buildings.

3. Beach or swim wear and items of clothing intended to be worn while participating in athletics are inappropriate except in the gym and on athletic fields.

4. Dress that causes or is likely to cause disruption of the educational process is prohibited.

5. Wearing apparel that interferes with or endangers the student while he/she is participating in classroom or other school-sponsored activities is prohibited. The decision as to the safety or unsuitability of the clothing is a matter for the instructor’s or school administrator’s judgment.

6. Pupils must not wear hats or dark glasses in the building without permission from an administrator.

7. Any manner of grooming or apparel, including clothing, jewelry, hats, emblems, and badges, which by virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute is associated with or denotes membership in or affiliation with any gang, will not be allowed. The prohibition on gang-related apparel shall be applied at the discretion of building-level administrators after consultation with the superintendent or designee as the need arises at individual schools.

Disciplinary action for violation of any standard will include notification of the violation, the requirement that the clothing be changed before re-entering class, and, at the discretion of the building-level administrator, a parental conference. More severe disciplinary consequences, including suspension or expulsion, may result from repeated or serious violations.

Free and Reduced Fees

Free and Reduced Fees Application Information

BASE

Acres Green Elementary B.A.S.E. Program

Do you need before and/or after school childcare? How about all day childcare during school breaks? Check out our BASE program!

B.A.S.E. will be offering care for families in the mornings and afternoons Monday-Friday

Before care: 6:30AM-8:20AM $13/child
After care: 3:30PM-6:15PM $13.75/child

Space is limited so please sign up before Wednesday at Midnight the week prior to your care needs.

Full day sessions are offered on specific days when children do not have school. We offer crafts, off-site field trips, and physical education activities. Children must be registered with the AGE B.A.S.E. program.

Full days- 7:00AM-5:30PM $35/child + activity fees

Kindergartners will be able to start on their first day of full day Kindergarten.
Students must be 5 years old and potty trained to begin B.A.S.E.