Ajo School District
Ajo Arizona

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Student/Parent Handbook

We believe in honoring diversity.

STUDENT SERVICES AND COUNSELING

The Counseling Department at Ajo School will assist each student in developing a four-year high school plan and forming post high school goals.

The following priorities have been established for the Ajo School Counseling Department:

Student problems or crisis situations.
Peer Mentoring, Mediation, and Group facilitation.
Enrollment/scheduling/orientation of all students
Parent and teacher concerns and request; facilitating conferences
Personal growth and development through individual conferences and group presentations.
Academic/career planning.

We encourage members of our school community to utilize counseling services. Our counselor will assist parents to be involved in determining the most appropriate educational choices for their child. We encourage parents to review counseling materials, to ask questions about our program, and to make suggestions for its improvement. Parents or students wishing to see a counselor should contact the Counseling Center to make an appointment.

School Admissions

Students who are residents of the District or the authorized territory of Pima County, and are living with their parents or legal guardians, and who meet the age requirements established by state law and comply with other statutory requirements, may be admitted to the public school of the District.

The parent or surrogate of each new enrollee in the District, except homeless students as defined in ARS 15-824, will be asked to produce one of the following proofs:

A certified copy of the child's birth certificate.
2. Other reliable proof of the student's identity and age, including the student's baptismal certificate, an application for Social Security number, or original school registration records and an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a copy of the birth certificate.
3. A letter from the authorized representative of an agency having custody of the student (pursuant to statue) certifying that the student has been placed in the custody of the agency as prescribed by law.

The parent or surrogate will be given thirty days to provide documentation requested as listed above. If documentation is not provided, a second letter will be sent to notify the parent or guardian that unless the documentation is provided within ten days, the local law enforcement agency will be notified.

Nothing contained in this policy shall authorize the District to disclose to any person a student's educational record without prior parental consent unless the District makes a determination that disclosure of such records is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student.

We believe that the growth of an individual necessitates an
intricate balance between the right to think and act freely and the responsibility
to act within moral and legal boundaries provided by society.

Entrance Ages

Kindergarten and First Grade

For admission to kindergarten, children must be five years of age prior to September 1 of the current school year. Children may be admitted to first grade that are six years of age or shall be deemed six years of age if they reach such age prior to September 1 of the current school year.

Admission of Nonresident Students (Arizona Open Enrollment Law - 1944)

The District may admit children of Arizona residents who do not reside in the District upon such terms as it prescribes, but such admission will be on a space available basis. A student who has been suspended or expelled from another school district will not be admitted without permission from the Superintendent.

When tuition is charged, it shall be in accordance with the Arizona Revised Statutes and U.S.F.R. at the District's full per capita cost in maintenance and operation, capital outlay, and debt service budget categories.

The parent or surrogate of each new enrollee in the District, except homeless students as defined in A.R.S. 15-824, will be asked to produce proofs as listed under School Admissions.

Residency Requirements

To be enrolled in any school in the state of Arizona, a student's parent or legal guardian must be a resident of Arizona. To prove residency, parents/guardians need to provide:

A rent receipt or evidence of a mortgage payment on a residence in Arizona
A utility bill receipt for water or electricity to the same address as the rent/mortgage receipt
At least one of the following:
- Telephone Receipt
- Drivers License
- Motor Vehicle Registration
- State ID Card (from MVD)
- Voters Registration Card
- Claimed Residence on Federal Income Tax Return
- Bank Statement (recent)
- Previously Filed State Income Tax Return
- Check with embossed Name and Address
- Pay check stub with address of employee printed on it
- Social Security, welfare, or other government benefit document showing address

All three items provided must have the same physical address (no P.O. Boxes please) to qualify as proof of residency. For more information please call the School Office at 520-387-7602 or the District Office at 520-387-5618.

We believe in creating skills for all learners that
promote responsibility, accountability, adaptability, and creativity.

Immunization of Students

Subject to the exemptions as provided by law, immunization against rubella (measles), rubella (German measles), poliomyelitis, tetanus, pertussis, mumps, hemophilus influenza b, and diphtheria is required for attendance of any student in any District school. A student's immunization record must be submitted prior to attendance, although a student may be conditionally enrolled provided that necessary immunizations have been initiated and a schedule has been established for completion of the required immunizations. A student who fails to comply with policies of the District, except that of a homeless student, shall not be suspended from attendance until the fifth calendar day after enrollment.

Any student with serologic confirmation of the presence of specific antibodies against a vaccine preventable disease shall not be subject to immunization against that disease as a condition for attending school.

The District will cooperate with county and state health departments in programs of immunization. Parent's permission must be secured before a student may participate in such immunization projects.

AZ immunization law requires that all 6th graders who are 11 years of age or older be vaccinated for Meningitis and have a Tdap booster shot. This must be done before they return to school after summer break. If you have a 5th grade child who is or will be turning 11 years old before the start of the school year, please get them vaccinated at your earliest convenience after their 11th birthday. It is the state law and school district policy that students who do not have the required vaccinations or a signed waiver on file at the school will not be permitted to attend school until these requirements have been met. If your 6th grade child will be turning 11 years old after the start of school, you should wait until the child s 11th birthday to get the vaccines. Please call the AZ Immunization office at (602)364-3630 with any questions.

Communicable Diseases

Any student with, or recovering from, a communicable disease will not be permitted in school until the period of contagion is passed or until a physician recommends a return, in accordance with A.R.S. 36-629 and A.R.S. 36-629.1, appropriate regulations of the State Department of Health Services, and policies of the County Health Department.

Parents will be requested to provide a history of the communicable diseases for each student and such records will be kept and maintained by the District.

A student suffering from a communicable disease shall be excluded from school to protect the student's own welfare and also other students from illness. Early recognition of a communicable disease is of prime importance. The administrator or county health director shall make the decision for exclusion and readmission.

Pedicuosis (Lice Infestation)

Students with pedicuosis shall be excluded from school until treatment specific for pedicuosis has been initiated.

"No Nit" Policy

The District's "No Nit" policy is an administrative method to assist in the management of this communicable disease. Specifically, children will be excluded from school until all lice and both viable and nonviable lice eggs (nits) have been removed from the hair after treatment with the appropriate medication. The primary purpose of the "No Nit" policy is to allow the District to return the responsibility of lice control to parents, who have the resources to handle it.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Human Immune Deficiency Virus Infections

A student ill with HIV virus or AIDS has a right to receive a public education. The Board has a responsibility to assure that the school provides a safe environment for all of its students and employees.

The Board directs that:

Infected students receive a public education.
Information be provided for parents, faculty, and staff members, and other concerned persons concerning the actual and potential dangers of transmission of the disease.
Decisions concerning the educational placement of infected students are determined upon the medical knowledge available and on a case by case basis.
· Restrictions be placed upon a student as required by Department of Health Services regulations, advice of the County Health Department and advice of a physician selected by the District.
Protection for the rights of privacy of each infected student will be a primary consideration.

Administration of Medicine to Students

Under certain circumstances, when it is necessary for a student to take medicine during the school hours, the District will cooperate with the family physician and the parents if the following requirements are met:

There must be a written order from the physician stating the name of the medicine, the dosage, and the time it is to be given.
There must be written permission from the parent to allow the school or the student to administer the medicine. Appropriate forms are available from the school office.
The medicine must come to the school office in the prescription container, or if it is over-the-counter medication, in the original container with all warnings and directions intact.
Any medicine that is not picked up within four days of the last day of school will be discarded.

The District reserves the right, in accordance with procedures established by the Superintendent, to circumscribe or disallow the use or administration of any medication on school premises if the threat of abuse or misuse of the medicine may pose a risk of harm to a member or members of the student population.

Remember!!! All medications should be picked up from the health office before the end of the school year. Medications that are not picked up by the fourth day after school is dismissed will be discarded.

Student Welfare (Missing Children)

Following proper notification, the records of each missing child will be flagged with a red sticker in the upper right hand corner of the cumulative folder. When records are requested for missing children, the local law enforcement agency will be notified and no records will be sent. The parent or surrogate of each new enrollee in the District, except homeless students as defined in A.R.S. 15-824, will be required to follow school admission requirements.

Telephone Calls/Messages

The telephone will not be used to ask permission to go some other place following school. The Office will take emergency messages to students. Please use discretion in asking that messages be delivered.

Fines

The care of school property is a part of training in citizenship. Fines will be charged for destruction or vandalism of any school property. Fines for lost or extensive damage to textbooks, workbooks and library books shall be the cost of the book. Minor book damage shall be charged as follows:

Item	Cost $
Cover Damage	1.00
Marked Page	.20 per page
Replacement Report Card	1.00
Torn Pages	.50 per page

Public Complaints about School Personnel

Complaints will be handled starting at the school level, and when necessary will proceed through the various administrative levels.

All complaints shall be referred to the Superintendent for investigation. The employee involved shall be given an opportunity, at each administrative level at which the matter is reviewed, for explanation, comment, and presentation of facts, either formally or informally. The employee will be afforded elements of due process as provided in Arizona law.

School Dances

Individuals not enrolled at Ajo Middle or High School cannot attend school dances except as follows:

Homecoming Dance - An Ajo High School student may invite a guest not enrolled at Ajo High School providing the guest is no more than a three-year graduate and the principal has given permission.

Junior/Senior Prom - A junior or senior may invite a guest from within the student body or from another school. However, out-of-town guests cannot be more than a three-year graduate and must receive approval from the principal. Guests cannot be over 20 years of age.

6-8 grade dances will be scheduled separately from high school dances. High school students may not attend Middle School dances and vice versa. Guests are not allowed at 6-8 grade dances. All guests are bound by the rules set forth in this handbook.

Student Government/Clubs/Organizations

Student Council - Determines policies and supervises student activities. The students elect all members of the student council. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Class Representation - Each class shall elect the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two representatives to the student council. The president and two representatives serve on the student council and must maintain approved extracurricular eligibility during their term of office. New officers shall be elected during the month of April for the coming school year.

National Honor Society - The NHS should create an enthusiasm for scholarship, stimulate a desire to render service, promote worthy leadership and encourage the development of character.

Schedule Changes

Schedule changes are disruptive to a student's learning process. After enrollment in a class, the only changes that will be considered are those that improve the student's educational plan.

Adding and Dropping of Classes: High School Only

A student may add a new class to his/her schedule the first two weeks of each semester. Students adding classes within this time period will be required to make up all back assignments in their new classes. Parent/guardian permission will be required prior to adding a new class.
A student request to drop a class shall be made before the end of the second week of each semester. Prior to approving that request, teachers and parents will be consulted. The student must meet all course load requirements.
All drops and additions must have the approval of the principal and parent/guardian.

Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
Euripides

They can because they think they can.
Virgil

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
Frank Loyd Wright