Welcome!

Welcome to Safford K-8 Magnet School. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful school year. Our school goals throughout the year are to develop and implement a literacy curriculum that meets the needs of all students; to foster a safe, non-threatening, learning community; and to increase communication between teacher and home.

We have prepared this handbook so that we may bring about a better understanding between the school and parents/students. We ask for your cooperation so that we may provide a rewarding and enriching educational experience. Please take time to read this handbook thoroughly.

SCHOOL MASCOT:  HUSKY

SCHOOL COLORS:   ROYAL BLUE & ORANGE

 

The purpose of Safford Elementary School is to create an educational community of school and family whereby all students will become literate and numerate. We will provide a continuous developmentally and linguistically appropriate K-5 curriculum which will empower students to develop as fully functional individuals.

Students will furthermore be provided with the educational opportunities and experiences to prepare them for successful participation in the engineering and technology curriculum of Safford Middle School. We will create a continuous and contiguous K-8 curriculum to meet this goal.

Our beliefs are that:

All students can learn, bringing with them both the ability to use language as well as unique cultural experiences.

All teachers will provide organized daily opportunities for language and literacy, mathematical problem solving and higher level math skills, and social interactions. Teachers are viewed as facilitators of learning, providing instruction at the appropriate developmental and linguistic level.

All parents can share and participate in the learning opportunities of their children.

 

 

Safford Engineering and Technology Magnet Middle School provides its diverse population with a comprehensive education combining traditional academics with engineering and technology. Safford faculty and staff promote self-esteem and academic excellence enabling our students to become life-long learners who are literate, responsible members of a diverse society.

Safford is a middle/magnet school consisting of students from diverse socio-economic and multicultural backgrounds. Staff, parents, community partnerships and students work together to provide a variety of educational opportunities. Students are encouraged to be active participants in this ongoing learning process which fosters high expectations for all and quality instructional experiences which recognize, support, and accept cultural diversity. Our goal is to instill a desire to create a positive learning climate based upon a caring atmosphere and respect for all modeled by the faculty. The Safford curriculum is developed to provide a balance in the presentation of intellectual, cultural, emotional, social, and individual differences of students. Through staff and parent cooperation and communication, we promote and encourage student desire for a continuing education.

Grades K - 5 8:24 a.m. - 2:36 p.m. daily

Middle School 8:54 a.m. - 3:50 p.m. daily

Students who ride with parents, bike, or walk, should arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Adult supervision will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. for elementary. Adult supervision ends at 4:30 p.m. for middle school.

Upon dismissal all students are expected to leave the building and grounds unless involved with after school programs. If a child is to remain longer than fifteen (15) minutes after dismissal time, parents will either be notified by phone or a note will be sent home.

Please notify the office in advance and/or advise the teacher if there is to be a change in the transporting of your child to and from school. If no notification is received, your child will follow his/her regular method of getting home.

We encourage you to try and schedule your child's doctor and dental appointments around school hours. It is very important that our students educational day go uninterrupted. If this is not possible, you must come to the office first to check your child out of school. For your child's safety, the teacher will not release a child to anyone who has not obtained an Early Dismissal Slip from the office.

A note must be sent by a parent/guardian stating the time and purpose for leaving. This note should be presented to main office upon arrival at school. Parent/Guardian must come to the main office and present identification to sign the student out. T.U.S.D. policy directs that all students must remain on school grounds from arrival time until the close of the school day unless special permission is granted to leave early.

All children are expected to be in attendance each day unless they are ill or a family emergency arises. Please remember that a written note explaining the absence is required after a student has been absent. We realize that there will be instances when your child may be tardy, but please avoid this whenever possible. Tardiness interrupts your child's instructional time as well as the instructional time of his/her classmates. A note must accompany your child to explain the reason for his/her tardiness. It is important that the home and school cooperate closely in guarding the health and safety of our children. If you know your child is going to be absent/tardy, please call the main office at 225-3000. If your child is to be absent for three (3) or more days, please notify his/her teacher so class work may be picked up. This will ensure that your child will not get behind in his/her class work.

Middle School students who are tardy to class must fill out a tardy form in his/her classroom. When the classroom teacher turns the tardy form into the office, a record of that tardy will entered into the students discipline file. Discipline action will be taken for excessive tardies.

Withdrawal of Students

If you are moving out of our attendance area and are withdrawing your child from school, please call or come by the school a few days prior to the withdrawal date. This will give ample time to complete the necessary paper work, etc. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Bus students are assigned to ride school buses that will pick them up and drop them off in close proximity to their homes. Bus transportation is a privilege and students are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner at all times. Misbehavior on the bus or at the bus stop could result in loss of riding privileges.

Students are not allowed to ride a bus other than their assigned bus unless a written request is received from the parent or guardian. This request must be approved by the principal.

A. School is your work place........DRESS APPROPRIATELY.

B. Shoes must be worn at all times.

C. Clothing must cover the mid section from the shoulders to slightly above the knees. Appropriate attire would be jeans, slacks, shirts, tee shirts, dresses, skirts, and blouses. DO NOT wear midriff tops, low cut tops, spaghetti strap blouses, half shirts, fish nets, strapless tops, short shorts, tight stretch shorts and pants, short skirts, ripped jeans nor clothes that expose undergarments or bare chests. Pants size should not exceed 2 inches over measured waist size. Low hanging/sagging pants and shorts and/or extremely wide-legged pants and shorts will be seen as ill fitting and you will be asked to change. If you violate the dress standards, you will be asked to wear clothing provided by the school administration or parents will be called to bring appropriate clothing. Repeat offenders will be addressed by administration.

D. Garments with vulgar statements, pictures, gang oriented insignias, satanic/negative symbols are inappropriate and may not be worn to school. Also, those garments advertising illegal substances, beer/alcohol and cigarettes, may not be worn.

E. Any item or color which identifies/signifies a group and becomes counter productive to the educational environment or safety of the general school population is prohibited and will be confiscated. (Examples: belts or chains hanging longer than 2 inches; any type of shoes with altered shoelaces which color depicts gang affiliation; clothing with 8 ball , Players, Homies, 69,.)

F. Do not wear baseball caps or any hats including beanies or stocking caps on campus.

G. Do not wear or display sunglasses on campus.

One of the best ways to avoid the loss of personal items is not to bring them to school. Students will be advised at the beginning of school not to bring items unnecessary for the instructional program. Radios, cameras, tape recorders, pagers, cellular phones, electronic games, toys and the like are not permitted. If something is lost, the student should check the Lost and Found. Please label your child's lunch boxes, coats, and other personal belongings. School insurance does not cover the personal belongings of students. Individuals are responsible for any personal property that is brought to school.

During the first week of school, all children will be given an application for free and reduced breakfast and lunch to take home to their parent, or they may be picked up from the administrative office during the first few weeks of school. These forms must be filled out accurately and returned to the school office on time in order for your child to receive free and reduced breakfast and lunch. All students on free or reduced lunch last school year must reapply for the 2002-2003 school year. Any students on free or reduced lunch must reapply by September 30, 2002.

Students may pay for their breakfast or lunch on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The breakfast program will begin the first day of school. Students eating breakfast should arrive at 8:00 a.m. for elementary and 8:30 a.m. for middle school in order to have time to eat before class begins.

Both hot lunches and snack bar food items are available for middle school students. A student may bring his/her lunch. Milk may be bought separately. Students are expected to dispose of all refuse in available garbage cans and to help keep the dining area clean. Students are not allowed to take food outside the cafeteria.

During the first week of school your child's teacher will be sending home an information sheet for you to complete. Having this information returned promptly and correctly is of utmost importance. A record of this information is kept in the office in case of an emergency. Please make sure all telephone numbers and addresses are accurate and clearly written. Remember to put the name and telephone number of a person who can be contacted in case you cannot be reached. Please notify the school if you change addresses or telephone numbers during the school year. For safety reasons, it is very important that your child's records be kept up to date.

The school provides a nurse or a nurse on call during the school day. If your child is injured or ill at school, he/she should report to the nurses office. Parents will be contacted if necessary. If you cannot be contacted, the emergency number listed will be called.

Phone messages should be limited to emergencies only. Pay phones are only to be used before school, during lunch, and after school.

Arizona State Law requires that a child must be immunized against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, and rubella before he/she enters school. Free immunizations are available from the County Health Department. If proof of immunization is not presented to the school, your child will be denied admission.

We need your cooperation when medicine is to be administered to a child during the school day. First, medicine must be prescribed by a physician. Prescription drugs must be in the original pharmacy container labeled with the child's name, date, medication dose, and time to be taken. Second, parents must take the medicine to the school nurse. Medicine will be given in the presence of the nurse, nurses aide, principal or office manager. Non-prescription medicine will not be administered unless the family physician has provided written directions. This includes non-prescription, over-the-counter medications as well. Please make sure the appropriate form is signed by the physician and parent before the medication is brought to school. The medication and form must be left in the nurses office. Student should not be in possession of prescription or non-prescription medications.

In most cases when parents are divorced both mother and father continue to have equal rights when their children are concerned. If you have a court order that limits the rights of one parent in matters such as custody or visitation, please bring a copy to the school office. Unless the court order is on file with us, we must provide equal rights to both parents or legal guardian.

All monies obtained through school-wide fund raising will go directly to benefiting the students at Safford. A need will always be established and communicated to students and parents before fund raising begins. We appreciate your efforts and support! Students are not allowed to do personal fund raising or to sell any items on school property.

Parents are welcome to visit Safford School at any time. Please make arrangements through the office. All visitors to the building are required to sign-in with the office and obtain a visitor's pass before going to the classrooms. Parents/Guardians should make appointments in advance with staff members to avoid conflicts in scheduling. Guests of students are not permitted on campus or in classes because of the liability to the school district.

If you are interested in becoming a school volunteer, please call 225-3000 and ask for the Parent Liaison. We have many areas in which parental help is encouraged and needed. Please feel free to get involved with as many activities as your schedule permits.

School pictures will be taken in September. Spring pictures are usually taken in March or April. A notice with ordering information will be sent home prior to the scheduled date.

Bicycles ridden to school are to be parked in the bicycle compound and must be locked. Bicycles are not to be ridden on walkways at any time. Skateboards and skates are not allowed on campus at any time. School is not responsible for skateboards, bicycles, or skates on campus.

The School Resource Officer is a specially trained Tucson Police Department Officer assigned to Safford to work with students and parents. Currently our SRO is Officer Steve Sussen.

Textbooks are lent to students for use during the school year. Students will be charged for any damaged or lost textbooks.

Field trips are offered for educational purposes. Parents will be asked to sign a generic field trip form at registration. In addition, for each individual field trip, parents will be notified and permission required again. Siblings from Safford or other schools may not accompany a class on a field trip.

Teachers report grades to parents and students in order to indicate the child's effort in class and mastery of material. During the first week of class, each teacher sends home a letter detailing the grading system for his or her subject. The letter has a place for a parents signature. Parents should go over these letters with their child and return the signature portion to the teacher.

A: Excellent very strong mastery of material (90% - 100%), excellent effort

B: Very Good strong mastery of material (80% - 89%), strong effort

C: Satisfactory average mastery (70% - 79%) or student is inconsistent with work or effort

D: Poor little mastery (60% - 69%) or effort, shows little interest in doing work

F: Failing little to no mastery (below 60%) or effort

E: Excellent excellent attitude toward learning, cooperating, and helping others

S: Satisfactory positive attitude toward school

U: Unsatisfactory negative attitude, disruptive, and disrespectful in class

Students and parents should ask their teachers frequently about their grades. Teachers will contact parents if their child's grade falls to an F.

Report cards are mailed home at the close of each nine-week grading period. Report cards contain academic and citizenship grades, attendance, and comments. Middle school students receive a progress report approximately midway through each nine-week grading period. Parents should contact the school if they have not seen their child's report card at the indicated times.

To calculate semester and final grades, quarter grades are converted to a 4-point system

(A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0) and averaged.

Student achievement is reported on quarterly Progress Report. Progress Reports are given to parents during the first Parent/Teacher conference. Progress Reports for quarters 2, 3, and 4 are sent home with students.

Each middle school student is assigned to a counselor who will assist students throughout the middle school years. Counselors will assist students with orientation to school, subject choices, study habits, schedule changes, and personal concerns. Counselors are available to students at all times.

Ms. Andrea Galvan, K-6th Grade Counselor

Ms. Crystal Reedy 7-8th Grade Counselor

Lockers will be issued to middle school students. Students and parents will be asked to sign a contract explaining proper usage of lockers. Lockers will be used ONLY before first period, before and after lunch and after school. Take only required material and school supplies to class. Handbags, gloves, backpacks, and fanny packs should be kept in your student locker. Failure to follow rules for lockers will result in the student's being locked out of his/her locker for a period of time. Continued failure to follow rules will result in loss of locker. Physical education locks and lockers are assigned by the physical education teacher. Lockers may be searched by the administration or a designee if there is reasonable cause.

Safford Magnet Library/Media Center offers students a core collection of over 10,000 books that is supplemented with a wide range of electronic media - including Internet links, laserdiscs, CD-ROMs and videocassettes.

Students have access to the library before and after school, Monday though Thursday, for research opportunities, tutoring and free reading. Most books may be checked out for two weeks and renewed for longer periods of time if no one else has requested them. Every student may have up to three books checked out in his/her name at any one time.

Although the library's primary mission is to support the curriculum, strong emphasis is also given to recreational reading for a broad spectrum of individual interests.

All students are urged to visit the library on their own time to discover the vast resources available to assist them achieve both academic success and personal enrichment.

Elementary Library

The elementary school library also offers a collection of various materials including electronic media such as Internet links and CD-ROM based information for student use.

The elementary librarian is at Safford on a part-time basis. Classes are scheduled into the library regularly.

An extended day period is provided for middle school students at the end of each day. A special bus will transport extended community students who stay for extended day activities. Students may take advantage of this period for:

.................Extra assistance and assignments

.................Special activities

.................Club activities

Interscholastic sports at Safford Middle School are Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Soccer, Girls' Soccer, Boy's Track and Field, and Girls' Track and Field . A physical, parent permit, and emergency card are required before participation is allowed.

Special Education services are available to qualifying students at Safford. Students with Learning/Language difficulties should be referred to the Child Study Team.

Eligibility for the GATE program will be established through district-wide screening in January.

Notice to Parents: If you disagree with the teachers decision to retain or promote your child, you may, if you desire, request a review by the Tucson Unified School Districts Governing Board. A written request for a review by the Governing Board must be submitted.

1. Are at school to learn.

2. Are respectful, considerate and kind to other people.

3. Settle differences or disagreements peacefully without fighting, name calling, insults or put downs.

4. Practice habits of good health and cleanliness. Get proper rest, food, and exercise. Do not abuse their bodies by using substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.

5. Do not use profane or abusive language.

6. Walk while on sidewalks and in hallways and in other indoor areas.

7. Do not slide down the banister or lean over the balconies.

8. Respect the authority of all staff members at the school.

9. Remain on school grounds until dismissed or given permission to leave.

10. Are not in restricted areas, for example: faculty parking lot; north of main building; in the alley or the southwest corner of the technology building (except for passing periods).

11. Report to class and then ask for permission and a pass to see the nurse, counselor or any other staff member. DO NOT go to see these people first.

12. Respect school and other people's personal property.

13. Only call parents at home or work during the school day with permission from school officials. Pay phones may only be used before school, during lunch, and after school.

14. Help keep grounds and facilities litter free.

15. Attend school daily.

16. Eat lunch inside the cafeteria or on the patio, ONLY.

17. Do not bring knives, guns, explosives or any other unsafe objects on campus. ** No chains may be worn, and belts must be completely wrapped in belt loops of pants.

18. Do not chew gum, eat candy or sunflower seeds or have any other food or drink item during school hours.

19. Are not allowed to bring CD players, cameras, electronic equipment (pagers, cellular phones, etc,), toys or permanent markers to school.

20. Do not "rough-house" (trip, push, fight, wrestle) with other students at school or going to and from school.

21. Do not intimidate, threaten, or "bully" students.

22. Do not wear baseball caps and hats on campus or at any school function.

23. Do not sell anything on campus unless permission is given by student council or school administration.

24. Know that extreme displays of affection are inappropriate.

25. Refrain from writing notes. Notes will be collected. If they include an inappropriate message, they will be turned over to a counselor, assistant principal, principal/parent.

26. Only use soda machines before school and after school. Sodas are not allowed outside of the patio area.

Students are expected to follow the Guidelines for Student Rights and Responsibilities which specifies the rights and responsibilities of students; describes that conduct which violates those rights and responsibilities; strives to standardize those procedures which the school will use in responding to conduct problems; and assures the rights of students when disciplinary action is taken. The Guidelines are in force during regular school hours; while being transported on the school bus or other transportation sanctioned by the school district; at times and places where the principal or other school official or employee has jurisdiction over students; during school-sponsored events; during field trips; during athletic functions; when going to and from school and during other activities associated with the school in any way.

Please reinforce your child's understanding of the need to follow rules to protect his/her own interests when a group of children are learning, playing, or eating together. It is the responsibility of each child to behave in a manner that does not interfere with or disrupt other students' rights to an education. Parents will be informed immediately of any unacceptable behaviors. If the behavior is not acceptable, teachers, counselors, specialists, and administration will work with the child and his/her parents in every possible way to modify the disruptive behavior.

Below are the steps that all staff will follow to help students become a responsible members of the Safford community.

1. Verbal Warning

Staff member will review the rule with the student. The student will verbally suggest a plan of action should he/she break the rule again.

2. Student - Staff Member Conference

Staff member and student will plan appropriate strategies and logical consequences. Documentation will be initiated.

3. Time-out

Time-out will take place within the instructional setting or in another classroom. During time-out, the student will work on class assignments requested by the teacher.

Parents will be notified via telephone or referral. The referral will need to be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to school the next day.

A parent/teacher conference will be requested if problems persist with the student. The student will be expected to attend this conference along with the counselor/administrator.

6. Administrative Referral

Student will be referred to the principal/assistant principal for discipline.

Tucson Unified School District will provide the parent(s) of a student and/or an eligible student with an opportunity to inspect and review the education records of the student.

(An eligible student is one who has reached 18 years of age or who is attending an institution of postsecondary education.) This may be done according to the provisions of District Board Policy 5130 and the Administrative Regulations pertaining to Board Policy 5130.

The parent(s) and/or an eligible student may inspect and review the students education records, and the District policies and administrative regulations governing use of those records, by making an appointment with the students school principal or assistant director, Regional Service Center. A copy of state and federal statutes and regulations concerning student records is available for reasonable inspection in the office of the Superintendent or designee, 1010 E. 10th St., Tucson, Arizona. A list of the types of records maintained, and an explanation of any record, will be provided by appropriate District personnel upon request.

The parent or eligible student who believes that information contained in the education records is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy rights of the student may request in writing that the records be amended, and may further request a hearing to challenge the content of the record, as provided by federal and state statutes, rules and regulations.

The District must obtain the written consent of the parent or eligible student prior to releasing personally identifiable information from the education records of a student, except in circumstances where federal and state law authorize limited exceptions to the requirement of prior written consent before disclosure.

In accordance with federal law, TUSD may make available, upon request only to various persons, agencies, and institutions the following categories of information regarding students, since such information is considered directory information and does not require the written consent of a parent /eligible student to release such information as:

You may object to the release of personally identifiable directory information (name, photographs and interviews) by notifying the principal or designee of the school, in writing on TUSD Form 274, prior to October 1 of this year. If you object, then such information will not be released except in compliance with specific provisions of the federal law. If no response has been received by that time, it will be assumed that there is no objection to releasing such information. This procedure shall be done annually.

Any complaints arising from an alleged violation of these rights accorded parents and eligible students may be submitted to the Superior Court of Pima County, Arizona, or to the Family Policy Compliance Office, Department of Education, FOB6, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20202-4605. ((202) 260-3887).

For further information contact the Department of Administrative Services, Tucson Unified School District, P.O. Box 40400, 1010 E. 10th St., Tucson, Arizona 85717. ((520) 617-7355).

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION Tucson Unified School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its educational programs or activities. Inquiries concerning Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Section 504 and Americans With Disabilities Act may be referred to Director for Equity Development, 1010 East 10th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85717, (520) 617-7302, or to the Office for Civil Rights, U. S. Department of Education, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80204.

President, Mary Belle McCorkle, Ed.D.; Joel T. Ireland, Clerk; Judy Burns; Rosalie Lopez; Carolyn Kemmeries. Superintendent: Estanislado "Stan" Paz, Ph.D.