CAMPUS
Our campus is located at 201 ‘A’ Street. Students enter the building through the south entrance at 8:15 a.m. and after lunch and may congregate on the patio and adjoining sidewalk prior to school and at lunchtime. Students are expected to keep the area free of trash. The driveway and curb must remain clear for traffic heading into the parking structure. The area across the driveway, the parking garages and the parking lot just east of our building are out of bounds. Skateboarding and rollerblading are not allowed on or around the campus before or after school.

Classes occur on three floors. Students may use the stairs on the southeast side to go upstairs, the stairs on the southwest side to go downstairs and the stairs on the north side for both. Elevators are not for student use except for medical reasons with a doctor’s note.

ATTENDANCE—ABSENCES & TARDIES
Regular, on-time, daily attendance is mandatory and necessary. Any absence, excused or unexcused, has a negative impact on a student’ s success in their courses. [Students are required to be in the classroom ---- minutes in order to legally receive credit for the course. More than ten absences in a class will result in no credit for the course and the student will have to repeat it in summer school or a credit recovery program.] If you know you will be absent, tell Mr. Hazelton, Ms. Hicks, or Ms. Crossno and get an Independent Learning Contract that you must take to each teacher who will provide your assignments (your homework for the class.) Do the work, and turn it in to your teacher as soon as you return; you will be counted as present for the days you missed. (Teachers may have their own additional requirements). (For habitual absences, see consequences for tardies).

Three tardies of more than five minutes each within a month will result in a referral in your file. Two months in a row will result in a letter home and a parent conference. We will create a performance contract to support your punctuality.

Attendance and tardy problems will be reported to SARB.

IF YOU ARE ILL
Have your parent call Ms. Barraford at (619) 338-9206 before school starts. Bring a note written and signed by your parent/guardian; notes will be verified by the office. If you will be out for more than a day or two, your parent can get an Independent Learning Contract (which is homework for your regular classes) from each teacher, do the work, and turn it in to your teacher as soon as you return; you will be counted as present for the days you missed. (Teachers may have their own additional requirements).

MESSAGES AND PHONE USE
Our phones are for business purposes. Students may use the phones only with the permission of Ms. Crosbie to contact parents/guardians at the end of the school day. We will not provide an answering service for students, however if there is an urgent message or an emergency, we will do our best to deliver the information to the student.

CELL PHONES, PAGERS, HEADPHONES, CD PLAYERS & ELECTRONICS
Are not allowed in School or on Field Trips. Turn them off and put them in your backpacks or handbags BEFORE entering the building. If in view, items will be taken to the office. You may pick them up at the end of the day. Three infractions will result in a referral and potential loss of privilege to use on the way to and from school.

EARLY STUDENT CHECK-OUT
Doctor, Dentist and other appointments are best scheduled during non-school hours. However, if you must leave from school early, your parent/guardian must call or send a note requesting the early departure. All notes sent will be verified by the office. Parent/guardian must also sign out in our sign out log or verify your arrival home on our absence excuse form and return it the next day.

VACATIONS DURING SCHEDULED SCHOOL DAYS
Please do not schedule family vacations during scheduled school days. Our school calendar is included in the handbook for your planning purposes. If there is a family emergency or other special circumstance that requires you to miss school, tell Ms. Hicks or Ms. Crossno and get an Independent Learning Contract (which is homework for your regular classes) from each teacher, do the work, and turn it in to your teacher as soon as you return; you will be counted as present for the days you missed. (Teachers may have their own additional requirements).

CLASS OUTINGS AND FIELD EXPERIENCES
Fieldwork is an important and valuable part of our curriculum. Many of the field experiences are free to our students; on occasion there will be minor charges for tickets or transportation. The same rules of conduct apply outside the building as inside the classroom. In addition, you must follow the directions of your teachers and other adult chaperones; remember you are part of a group that needs to remain together. You are always an ambassador for CHA to the rest of the community.

CHAPERONING FIELD EXPERIENCES
This is one way your parents/guardians can contribute service to the school for their 40 hours. If they are also willing to drive you and other students in their car, CHA must have, on file, a copy of their driver’s license and auto insurance coverage.

SECURITY
We are all responsible for maintaining a safe environment. The classrooms will be locked when no one is in them. We encourage students not to bring non-essential valuables to school. The doors to our building are locked from the outside. This is for your protection. Please do not prop open the doors or open the doors to strangers or students who do not attend CORTEZ HILL ACADEMY. Alert Ms. Barraford, Ms. Rowan or another staff to handle visitors or strangers.

HALL PASSES
Students are to remain in class during class time. Passing time between classes is long enough for using the restroom and drinking fountain. If you need to leave the classroom for any reason, get permission from your teacher. There is a pass for you to fill out. The teacher must sign it. Return all passes to the issuing teacher. If you are found outside the classroom including running an errand for your teacher without a pass you will be escorted back to class. You may receive a referral and after-school detention.

VISITORS
Adult visitors must check in with Ms. Barraford or Ms. Rowan in the administrative office and sign the visitor’s log. Students who want to visit as guests of a CHA student must fill out and return a Student Visitor Request Form 24 hours before the visit is to occur. You must have the approval of your teachers and Ms. Hicks or Mr. Hazelton to have a guest. Of course, you are responsible for the behavior of your guest.

MEDICATION PROCEDURES
Cortez Hill Academy does not have a school nurse so if a student requires ANY medication(prescription or non-prescription) during the school day, the parent/guardian must come to school to administer it.

FOOD AND WATER
Food may be eaten only on the first floor in the student commons area which includes the lunch room and the patio. Food is not allowed anywhere else in the building. Drinking water is allowed and encouraged in the classrooms except the tech lab.

SKATEBOARDS/BICYCLES
Students are allowed to use skateboards and bicycles as a mode of transportation to and from school, however, parents must sign a waiver to release us from any type of liability should a student injure themselves or others due to their use or for loss or damage to skateboard or bicycle. Students may not use these items at any point before, after or throughout the school day including at lunch time. They are required to store skateboards in the Principal’s office and bicycles outside chained to the poles.