2026-2027 PHE 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. Regular and punctual daily attendance is a critical factor in a student's ability to attain the maximum benefit from the educational process. According to state law, every child who has attained the age of six (6) years by August 1 of each year and is under the age of 17 years, except as otherwise allowed by state law, shall attend school. 2.1 The law states that when a student has four (4) unexcused absences in one calendar month or ten (10) unexcused absences in a school year, the student is considered habitually truant. 2.2 Parents, guardians and students are all responsible for making sure students are at school daily, on time and ready to learn. 

District Policy 5020 provides specific guidelines regarding student attendance. 

**Vacations or non-emergency activities should be scheduled for days or times when students are not in school. Opportunities for vacations are built into our disctrict calendar (example: October break). Reasonable requests for absences to be excused due to vacation or for other non-emergency reasons will be approved if the student has a 95% or higher attendance rate over the prior two (2) grading periods, and if the student isotherwise meeting academic performance expectations as determined by school administration.

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. If the student arrives after 7:55 a.m., a parent/guardian must sign them in at the front desk.

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.  

For more information about our school's BASE program, contact the BASE Site Director at 720-972-8791 or PHE BASE. 

Find more information about our district BASE Programs

BASE Hours

Before School 6:30 a.m. - 7:50 p.m.
After School 2:35 - 6:00 p.m.
Delayed Start 7:30 a.m.

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. Here are some fun and meaningful alternatives:

Small tokens or trinkets: Stickers or temporary tattoos, pencils, fun erasers, mini notepads, bookmarks, colorful gel pens, glow sticks, bubbles, min playdough containers, puzzle toys, fidget spinners

Classroom based fun: donate a book to the class library with your child's name inside, provide a birthday-themed activity or coloring page

Creative and Keepsake Ideas: Create a birthday photo poster with photos or drawings to share with the class, share a short video message from family to the class (with teacher approval), contribute a class puzzle, craft, or group project in honor of the day in partnership with the classroom teacher

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. 

• 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. 
• When you leave, take your tray to the return counter and exit the lunchroom through the assigned doors. 
• After you have finished eating, you should go to the assigned area outside. 
• Remember that others are in class. Please stay away from the building and classroom windows. 

Prairie Hills Elementary Cell Phone and Other Personal Technology Devices:  As outlined in the District Policy, cell phones and electronic devices including smart watches must be in the "off" or "silent" position and stored out of sight unless otherwise permitted by the instructor or building administrator.  At Prairie Hills this means that when students enter school grounds and are standing in line, their cell phones and smart watches are placed in their backpacks and once in the classroom are stored in their cubbies.  These devices shall not be used throughtout the school day including hallways, bathroom, playground or morning line-up outside.  Students may see the health aide, and or use classroom and office phone for essential home-school communication.

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:

Monthly Meadowlark Messenger - school update via email messenger/Apptegy and also on the PHE webpage

We try to send all communication home in Friday folders each week, but on occasion, it may be necessary to send home other notes and memos. Please check with your child each day to see if there are any additional notes that came home that day. 

Infinite Campus Parent Portal is our tool for parents and students to access instant, online, timely and secure student information: attendance, discipline, and report cards. Students will not be allowed to use the office phone to make after school social arrangements. Students will be allowed to use the phone only in the following situations:

• When requested by their teacher
• When requested by an administrator
• When requested by the health aide, nurse or office staff

School office staff will only deliver emergency message 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 call/emails will be made within one budsiness 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 follwoing:

• Call the classroom teacher and leave a voicemail. Teachers have been asked to check voicemail before and after school, and over their lunch break. 
• You may call the office, and they will deliver messages to your student's teacher at the end of the day. 
• You may call the classroom teacher before or after school. 

You may reach your student's teacher via Apptegy or email. Your student's teacher will provide you with the teacher's email address, and you may email them at your convenience. You may expect to hear back from them within one business day.

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.

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 by the library stairs. 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. 

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.

If your child brings a daily snack, please consider healthy options that will fuel them for the day and water only in water bottles. 

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 during school hours. We appreciate your cooperation with this request.

PE and Recess

Students will be provided opportunities to engage in physical education (P.E.) classes and daily recess. If a student is unable to participate in P.E. or recess, 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. Students participate in outdoor play and line-up when the "real feel" temperature is 20 degrees or higher.

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

School Security System

In our ongoing efforts to provide the safest and most secure environment for our students, an additional security measure has been installed, which requires 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.
• In order to enter the building, you will need to press the button located [describe location of button for school entry].
• An office member will release the doors, allowing access to the building.
• Once entering the building, ALL visitors must check in at the office, show ID, and obtain a visitor pass.
• If you would like to wait with your child before school or wait for your child after school, you will need to wait outside.

Your child's safety is of utmost importance to us. It is imperative that students are dropped off no earlier than 7:40 a.m. and picked up at 2:35 p.m. Adult supervision is only available 10 minutes before and after these times. 

Student safety - Please help us keep students safe: Our Hug and Go Lane is the best option for safe drop-off and pick-up each day, away from the street traffic and speed.

Please ensure tht your child knows the daily plan for pick up. If someone is responsible for meeting them, please remind them to be on school grounds no later than 2:35 p.m. at the dsiegnated pick up location. Staff will be available to assist with dismissal procedures at the end of each day for a period of 5-10 minutes. FOR THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS ARE PICKED UP FROM SCHOOL ON TIME DAILY.

• I pick-up is prior to the end of the school day, please make sure to bring your driver's license to pick up your child. Anyone other than the designated parent/guardian must be listed on a Student Authorization Pick Up Form and bring their driver's license to pick up your child. 
• If you are delayed, please call the office and let us know so we can have your child wait in the office.
• If you are delayed more than 15 minutes, you will need to make alternative arrangements. (We encourage families to make connections with classmates and neighbors to support one another with daily travel to and from school.)
• Besides our exceptional BASE program, there are also many day care providers in the area that support before and after school care. 
• If the issue continues after communication with the office team, a referral to the appropriate authorities will be made. 

Please remember:

• There is no parking in the Hug and Go Lane at any time. If your child hasn't arrived, we ask that you circle around and re-enter to allow a smooth traffic flow. 
• Please be patient. It is ONE LANE to supportr the crosswalk safety within the parking lot. 
• Students may only enter and exit on the passenger side of the vehicle.
• Remind your child to use sidewalks and crosswalks and be knowledgeable about bicycle safety when riding to and from school.
• Drop off and pick up of students is along the curb only, so they don't have to cross traffic other than at the crosswalk. Hug and Go lanes are located on the north side of the school.
• Students are expected to go directly to and from school and not stay on the school grounds or playgrounds unless supervised by their guardian.
• Students are to respect the rights and property of all people in the neighborhood. 

Parking:

• We have a large number of spaces and a simple enter and exit for all parents that would like to park, a great option away from the street traffic.
• If you utilize the PHE parking lot, please use the crosswalk at the top of the lot (south, closest to the building entrance) to ensure safety and a smoother flow in our Hug and Go Lane. 
• Students are not permitted to cross through the crosswalk in the parking lot on their own. They must be with an adult and utilize the crosswalk. To support safety and a clear line of sight, the streets closest to the school are designated as no parking. There is also NO PARKING within 15 feet of all crosswalks. 
• With the adjusted flow of traffic, we would like to increase the number of adults to support our crosswalks. If you would be interested in volunteering 1 or more times per week (morning or afternoon) or have any questions about this volunteer opportunity, please call the office at 720-972-8780. All volunteers will be provided district training. Thank you for considering!

Please help us keep students safe:

• Always use sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Drop off and pick up of students is along the curb only, so they don’t have to cross traffic other than at the crosswalk. 
• Avoid picking up or dropping off 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.
• Students are expected to go directly to and from school. They are to respect the rights and property of all people in the neighborhood.

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.

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 students 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 up your students early unless it is extremely necessary. Students who arrive late to school just check in at the office. If the student arrives after 7:55 a.m., a parent/guardian must sign them in at the front desk.

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 spend time with a teacher, please call and make arrangements prior to visiting. Also, if anyone other than a parent or legal guardian will be visiting the school (such as a grandparent coming for lunch) you must call the office ahead of time to let us know.

Information on emergency school closures due to severe overnight storms or other emergency situations is available on local television stations. Please listen for announcements concerning Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Information on closures may also be obtained by calling the District information number at 720-972-4000, then press 7 for school closure information or check the District website: www.adams12.org. Please note that school is rarely canceled. 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.

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.