2026-2027 Student Handbook

Student Attendance

Absences must be reported on the school’s attendance line, even if the student’s teacher(s) have been informed of the absence. The school’s attendance line may be called at any time to report an absence or tardy. Attendance is taken twice per day, once at the start and once after lunch. .

District Policy 5020 provides specific guidelines regarding student attendance. 

Early Departure/Late Arrival

Students who must leave school during regular school hours must be signed out through the office by a parent or legal guardian. A student may not be dismissed from their classroom until someone has signed the student out. Students cannot be released to leave school alone. Students are involved in instruction until the end of the school day.

We request that you do not pick your students up early unless it is extremely necessary. Students who arrive late to school must check in at the office and will receive a tardy pass. 

The Before and After School Enrichment (BASE) program serves elementary students beginning at 5 years of age.  The BASE Program is an extracurricular, optional, fee-based program. Space is limited and BASE Programs frequently have a list of families waiting for an opportunity to enroll in BASE. Capacities are in place due to space availability and staff to student ratios.

Students in the BASE Program engage in a wide variety of activities and choices providing students with opportunities to create, learn and grow through arts, physical activity and academic enrichment activities during out of school time.  All BASE activities allow students opportunities critical to their social-emotional development.  

Find more information about our district BASE Programs

Students riding a bike or scooter to school must take it directly to the specified bike rack area and leave it there until the student is ready to return home.

For safety reasons, students are not permitted to ride their bike/scooter on school grounds. They must walk their bike/scooter to the designated bike rack area once they arrive at school.

A lock is required to be used to secure bikes and scooters to the bike rack. Bicycles and scooters will not be guarded by the school at any time, so it is the student’s responsibility to lock the bike/scooter up safely.

Birthday Treats

In support of the district’s policy on school wellness, we strive to help our students make healthy lifestyle choices. Simple steps can help children continue making healthier choices as adults. In addition to healthier lunch choices and increased physical activity during our school day, we have implemented a “non-food birthday treats” protocol. Classroom teachers will share their non-food birthday celebration information with parents. We appreciate your support in this matter.

Birthday Invitations

We understand that school is the easiest place to distribute birthday invitations; however, doing so can cause many hurt feelings which disrupt the learning environment. Please have students pass out any party invitations after school is dismissed.

There are certain basic rules that students will be expected to follow when they are in the lunchroom. 

• Please keep voices at a lower level in the cafeteria so radio calls and emergency information can be heard by our lunch monitors.
• All food must be eaten in the lunchroom unless otherwise approved. 
• When you are finished eating, you are expected to leave the table and surrounding area clean for the next person. This includes the floor and table. Then raise your hand to be excused. Lunch monitors will dismiss tables when they are ready and the areas are clean. 
• When you leave, take your tray to the return table, follow the recycle/landfill/compost instructions provided by our Lunch paras, and exit the lunchroom through the assigned doors. 
• After you have finished eating, you should go to the playground. 
• Remember that others are in class. Please stay away from the building and classroom windows. 

The district’s policy on student cell phones and other personal technology devices (PTDs) is as follows:

• PTDs must be in the “off” or “silent” position and stored out of sight at all times during the school day, including lunch and recess.
• Students should not use their PTD to contact parents if they are feeling ill. They must go to the Health Office and the Health Aide will contact the parent if necessary. 
• In non-academic settings outside the school day, including before or after school activities or on school transportation, PTDs may be used in “silent mode” provided the use of the PTD, as determined by the supervising staff member or bus driver, in no way disrupts, poses a safety concern or otherwise violates the District’s Student Code of Conduct.
• Students with an IEP/504 plan/health care plan are permitted to have access to their cell phone or other PTD in accordance with their plan.

District Policy 5030 defines the term “Personal Technology Devices” to include any privately-owned portable technology device, including but not limited to cell phones and wearable technology such as smart watches, smart glasses, wireless earbuds, and wireless headphones.

The school is not responsible for any lost, stolen or destroyed PTDs on school property or at a school-sponsored activity away from campus. School administration, teachers, or staff will not investigate incidents.

Students who violate the district’s policy on student use of cell phones and other personal technology devices may be disciplined in accordance with District Policy.

Connect with your school and teachers.

The free Adams 12 Five Star Schools mobile app makes it easier than ever to stay connected with your school community. Get the latest school and district news, event updates, student highlights, and important alerts—all in one place. Learn more.

Download the app:

School Communications

Generally, students will bring home a Friday Folder each week with information and work to complete and/or review.  Teachers will often communicate via the app (Apptegy) to update families about class/grade level events and information specific to your student.  Additionally, the school will send out school-wide newsletter through Apptegy on Fridays each week to update families of school activities, events and important information.  Please be sure to monitor your app ensure  you see these important messages.

School office staff will only deliver emergency messages to students. Please assist us by making arrangements for after school pick-up and daycare prior to your child leaving for school in the morning. Response to parent phone calls/emails will be made within one business day.

Communication with your student’s teacher

Although teachers have telephones located in their classrooms, they have been directed to keep their ringers turned off during instructional time. If you want to reach your child’s teacher, you may do the following:

- Call the classroom teacher and leave a voicemail. Teachers have been asked to check voicemail before and after school, and over their lunch break.

- Call the office, and they will deliver messages to your student’s teacher at the end of the day.

- Call the classroom teacher before or after school.

You may also reach your student’s teacher through the apptegy app or email. Your student’s teacher’s email address is in the staff directory, and you may email them at your convenience. You may expect to hear back from them within one business day.

School Newsletters

Meridian Weekly Newsletter:  Every Friday, Meridian sends out a Family & Community Newsletter. This newsletter contains important information such as upcoming events, school-wide news. You can also view older newsletters in the NEWSLETTER section of our website. 

PTO Newsletter: Each Wednesday, our PTO will send out a newsletter with upcoming PTO events and activities.

Field trips to nearby points of interest may be scheduled by various classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and to introduce students to resources within the community. Parents will receive notice of scheduled field trips well in advance.

Parents must sign a permission form for all field trips. Students without a permission slip will not be allowed to accompany their class on the field trip.

In consideration of space and learning, only approved chaperones should attend field trips. Siblings and non-chaperones should not attend. 

Students will not be released to parents from the field trip site unless pre-arranged written documentation and approval is given by administration or the parent/guardian has signed their child out at the front office. 

Free and Reduced Benefits help families and their schools.

Here's How:

• Boosts School Funding: Schools receive additional funding from the state to enhance the educational experience for all students. Your child's school can receive more than $1,100 per qualifying student, directly enhancing the educational experience for all.

• Reduces School Fees: Families can receive 50% off select fees or not have to pay them at all. These include athletic fees, course fees, and activity and field trip fees tied to the curriculum. See the Fees Schedule
• Supports High Schoolers: High school students can receive discounts and/or tuition-relief when preparing for their future; which may include course fees, post-graduation planning, scholarships, state and national testing (including SAT, ACT, AP and IB), and post-secondary enrollment.

• Access to Community Resources: Families can qualify for additional resources, such as medical, food and cash assistance, and discounted services like internet

Families must reapply for free and reduced benefits every new school year.

Learn more & apply today!

Indoor recess will be called if:

• snow, rain or sleet is falling
• temperature with the wind chill is 20 degrees or less
• playground conditions are poor (mud, snow or standing water)

Students must be prepared for all types of weather. They should bring warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, weatherproof footwear and an extra pair of shoes for PE.

If your child misplaces an item, we encourage you to look in the lost and found located in the cafeteria. Often it is difficult to identify what they have lost. Please label coats, jackets, mittens, etc.

Remaining articles are donated to a local charity several times a year.

We highly discourage students from bringing valuables and toys to school. Items having value for one individual usually have an attractive appeal for others and unfortunately sometimes disappear. The school cannot be responsible for these items. Teachers may have a special celebration which allows students to bring in a favorite game, stuffed animal, etc. but please remember, at no time is it appropriate for students to bring toy guns, toy knives, or toy weapons of any kind.

All students enrolled in Adams 12 Five Star Schools can receive a FREE breakfast and lunch. Additional items such as snacks, beverages, and extra servings of our healthy entrée and side items are available for purchase a la carte.

Access menus and/or add funds for a la carte items:

SchoolCafe Family Hub

For more information about dietary needs, wellness policy and more, visit Nutrition Services.

In an effort to keep our school feeling safe for all students and families and in accordance with District Policy 1220, only service animals and therapy dogs are permitted on school property. District policy requires prior authorization from the principal to have a therapy dog on school property. We ask that all other pets remain off school grounds. If you bring your pet, please remain on or beyond the perimeter sidewalk and away from our bus pickup area. We appreciate your cooperation with this request.

Students will be provided opportunities to engage in physical education (P.E.) classes. If a student is unable to participate in P.E., the student must present to the principal or principal’s designee a statement from a licensed health care practitioner stating the reason for the student’s inability to participate. A licensed health care practitioner means a physician (MD, DO), nurse practitioner or physician assistant who has prescriptive authority and is licensed to practice in Colorado.

Your child’s progress will be reported at individual parent conferences at least twice a year. Report cards are available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal at the end of each grading period. Academic progress can also be found via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

In our ongoing efforts to provide the safest and most secure environment for our students, please adhere to the following safety measures.

• ALL exterior doors will be locked at all times.
• Please do not open the door or hold the door open for others.
• Once entering the building, ALL visitors must check in at the office, show ID, and obtain a visitor pass.
• An office member will release the doors, allowing access to the building once you have checked in.

Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to us. It is imperative that students are dropped off no earlier than 7:35 a.m. and picked up at 2:35 p.m. Adult supervision is only available at 7:35 a.m. and 10 minutes after school dismisses.

Please help us keep students safe:

• Always use sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Drop off and pick up of students is along the curb only if not using our Hug & Go Lane, so they don’t have to cross traffic other than at the crosswalk.
• Hug and Go lanes are located in the main parking lot of the school for morning drop off only.  There is no Hug & Go for pickup and the parking lot will be closed off at this time.  Please pull all the way forward in our Hug & Go lane when dropping students off so more vehicles can enter the area and drop off their students at the same time. 
• Avoid picking up student in the parking lots.
• Avoid parking within 15 feet of school crosswalks.
• Parents should encourage children to adhere to all safety rules established for pedestrians. This emphasis on safety is also a concern of the school’s staff, and is an important part of the instructional program.
• Please keep any pets on or beyond the perimeter school sidewalk and away from our bus pickup area.
• Students are expected to go directly to and from school. They are to respect the rights and property of all people in the neighborhood.
• The playground areas is only available for 5 minutes after school as our BASE Program utilizes this area after this time. Non-BASE students may not be on the playground during BASE hours.

Departure Procedures 

Students being picked up at school:

Students may only exit via their designated doors. Grade levels will communicate this to students and parents. Students in BASE or extracurricular activities must directly report to BASE or the extracurricular activities. Staff will assist K-2 students. Students and parents are not able to re-enter the building.

Students taking the bus:

Students taking a bus must line up at the appropriate sign and stay by the sign. Staff are present to assist and ensure safety. Parents must communicate with the main office if their child is/isn’t taking a specific bus.

District Policy 1200 requires that all parents and visitors must present a drivers license/I.D. at the front desk and sign in at the office upon entering the building. Your license will be scanned through our Raptor system and a visitor’s badge/sticker will be provided. You will be asked to wear a visitor’s badge/sticker at all times.

If you would like to volunteer with a teacher, please schedule a time prior to visiting. Drop in visits can not typically be accomodated.

If anyone other than a parent or legal guardian will be visiting the school (such as a grandparent coming for lunch) please notify office ahead of time to let us know if you will not be with this person.

In the event of bad weather, Adams 12 Five Star Schools uses a variety of resources to determine if conditions exist that warrant a 1-hour delayed start or closure of schools.

Every effort will be made to announce a decision by 5:30 a.m. to close or delay opening schools. 

Alerts are ONLY sent if schools are closed or operating on a 1-hour delay. If schools are operating on a normal schedule you will not receive an alert.

Learn more about the district’s 1-Hour Delay and School Closure process.