Student Information

 

Attendance

 
Bell Schedule
Arrival
 8:10 AM
Late Bell/ Classes Start 8:20 AM
Buses/Vans Dismissed 2:35 PM
Walkers Dismissed 2:41 PM
Student pick-up/drop-off area is located on 1st Street

 

Tardiness

All students will be considered tardy if they arrive after the opening bell. The first ten tardies will be excused if a note from parent/guardian is presented AND the excuse is deemed acceptable by the Building Principal or his designee, or a doctor’s excuse is presented. Upon the eleventh and subsequent tardies, a doctor’s excuse will be required for any student to be excused.

 

Temporary Absences

Pupils may be excused from school attendance to participate in an educational 
trip or tour at parent’s expense with the following provisions:
 
  1. A temporary absence form is to be procured at the school office or on the District website, filled out, and returned to school. This form should be completed and turned in to the building principal ten (10) days prior to the trip. No absence will be approved for over ten (10) school days unless approved by the Superintendent or his designee.

  2. The itinerary, anticipated objectives of the trip, and expected outcomes for the child be listed.

  3. Attending student(s) will be supervised by an adult acceptable to the Superintendent and parents.

  4. That the Superintendent or his designee approves the trip.

A TEMPORARY ABSENCE FORM SHOULD BE SUBMITTED FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED TO BE RELEASED FOR PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY FOR PARTICIPATION IN A RELIGIOUS EVENT.
 
 
To download a temporary absence form, please visit the Forms/Handbooks section of Parent Resources

 

School Policy

Pennsylvania State Board of Education (PSBOE); Public School Code 1949, Section 13-1327:
 
  1. An illegal or unexcused day of absence from school is any day of absence for reasons other than illness, health care, death in the immediate family, approved field trips, approved temporary absences, approved religious holidays, and any emergency approved by the principal. A student will not be permitted to make up work missed as a result of an unexcused absence. 
    (Reference: Board Policy 5008R4 Make-up Policy.)

  2. All absences require a written acceptable excuse by the parents/guardians/physician regardless of the student’s age or the absence is considered illegal or unexcused. The written excuse must be presented to the school when determined by the Attendance Director or the Principal’s designee, but no later than three school days after the return from absence.

  3. Parents/guardians are to be kept informed on a regular basis of their child’s attendance record/patterns. This will be done by letter, telephone, report card, and/or conference.

  4. On the fifth day of absence, a letter of concern is to be sent to the parents/guardians regarding the reason(s) for the absence. Documented (by an excuse from a physician or hospital)extended medical absences will be counted as one absence for the purpose of this clause. If a reason does exist, the parents/guardians should return the letter to the school with a written explanation.

    This letter of concern will include a section, which indicates that upon total absences of thirty-five (35) school days, excused or unexcused, the student may be considered for retention in his/her current grade the following year. (Legal Reference:  School Laws of Pennsylvania 1327, 1329, 1338)

  5. On the tenth day of absence, a letter will be sent from the school to parents/guardians requiring a medical excuse for each absence thereafter. Documented medical absences of three or more consecutive days will be counted as one absence for the 

 

Student Information

Please keep your child's demographic information up-to-date in the main office.  In the event that you move, please provide proof of your address change in writing.  Please also update any phone contact changes in writing.  

 

Emergency Contact Information

Please contact your child's classroom teacher if someone other than the primary parent/guardian is picking up your child for dismissal. Alternative pick-ups need to be designated on your child's Emergency Card and they will be asked to present a form of picture identification for alternative pick-ups to occur. 

Cafeteria Information 

All teachers will be sending home with each student a Free/Reduced lunch/breakfast application. 

If you are approved for free or reduced lunches, you will be notified by the Altoona Area School District Cafeteria Office. Applications may be obtained from the McAuliffe Heights Office at any time during the school year by calling the cafeteria office at (814) 946-8392 Ext. 4217 after 7:30 AM and before 1:30 PM. Voice mail is available. 

We ask that all monies be sent to school on the first day of each school week. Money is entered into your learner’s individual cafeteria account. The cost of a breakfast, lunch, or snack item can be drawn from this account. 

Please discuss with your learner how the money in the account is to be used.  Parents are sometimes unaware of students purchasing snacks and are surprised when an overdrawn notice is sent home by the cafeteria.

MySchoolBucks, an online management system, is now operational for online access and payments to lunch accounts. Please call ext. 4217 with questions or visit the AASD Cafeteria Pages.
 
Please only send checks with your child rather than cash to make payments to the cafeteria.

Milk is included with student lunches, but if bought separately, it is $.60.  All checks should be made payable to the Altoona Area School District.  All individual prices are also listed on the menus.