School Policies
Guidelines to help create a safe and focused learning environment
Attendance Policy
Ensuring consistent school attendance is critical to the academic progress of each South Pointe Elementary student. In alignment with the school's mission, vision, and core values, South Pointe Elementary maintains high standards with regard to attendance and tardiness. In the event that a student accrues 10 consecutive unexcused absences, the student will be withdrawn from the school. Students who are withdrawn from the school may re-enroll unless the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the program, class, grade level, or building.
Note: Excessive absences will be forwarded to the appropriate local truancy enforcement officer. Be warned that truancy is a class 3 misdemeanor. This can result in parent(s) and/or guardians being held accountable to court appearances and fines.
Excused Absences
Excused absences are those that are excused by the parent/guardian and by the school administration. The State of Arizona will only allow the following to be counted as excused absences:
- Illness
- Doctor/Dentist appointments
- Bereavement
- Family Emergencies
- Religious holiday observance
- Out of school suspension
Unexcused Absences Defined
- Out of town travel taken during scheduled instructional time
- Vacation days during scheduled instructional time
- Any other reasons other than the above mentioned excused absences are unexcused
Consequences for Unexcused Absences
| Number of Unexcused Absences | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 5 Absences |
|
| 7 Absences | Mandatory Parent Meeting with Administration Develop Attendance Plan |
| 10+ Absences |
|
| 10 Consecutive Absences | After 10 consecutive days of absences per semester, the state requires schools to automatically withdraw the student. |
Excused vs Unexcused Absences
An excused absence simply identifies that the parent or guardian knew that the student was absent and has notified the school. All absences, including excused absences, count against the total number of absences allowed per block.
If an extended absence will occur, the parent/guardian must contact the school administration to discuss the circumstances. The Administration will provide the options available to the student. Exceptions to the attendance policy are at the discretion of the Principal (i.e. extended hospital stays, contagious illnesses, etc.)
How to Excuse an Absence
In order to excuse an absence, the parent/guardian of the student(s) must notify the front office via phone call or through a text message sent to the school cell phone. When calling, parent/guardian should call the school at (480) 924-1500. Text messages must be sent to the school phone number at (480) 868-7713. When excusing a VGPA student from school, a reason must be provided in order to accurately record attendance data.
Sign In / Out or Leaving Early Policy
Students can be signed in or out of school at any point of the school day (8:30AM-2:30PM). In order to maintain compliance with student safety regulations, any individual that is signing a student out of school must be registered with VGPA as an approved emergency contact by the parent/guardian of the student(s). VGPA will not release a student to an unauthorized individual until confirmation from the student's parent/guardian is received by the front office.
Tardy Policy
It is imperative that all VGPA students arrive at school on time so that they are prepared to start the school day. A student is considered tardy if they arrive at any point after 8:30AM, when the school day begins. The reporting of tardiness data combines both unexcused and excused tardies. In the event of chronic tardiness, whereby a student consistently arrives late to school (whether excused or unexcused), the school administration may request a meeting with the family in an attempt to resolve difficulties with getting to school on time.
Any meetings related to chronic tardiness or absenteeism between school administration and a student's parent/guardian may result in the need for a contract that stipulates specific expectations regarding attendance and/or on-time arrival. This is done in an effort to clarify and/or resolve obstacles impacting consistent and on-time attendance during the school day.
Excused absences are identified by the Department of Education as an absence due to illness, doctor appointments, mental or behavioral health, homelessness, bereavement, family emergencies, time necessary to process for the armed forces, and out of school suspension.
(A.R.S. § 15-901(A)(1))
Students that accrue 10 consecutive unexcused absences will be withdrawn from school (A.R.S.§15-901(A)(2))
Dress Code
The VGPA school uniform policy is designed to create a sense of community, reduce distractions, and ensure a safe and respectful learning environment. The policy sets clear guidelines for appropriate student attire, fostering a positive school culture focused on learning and respect.
Students need to adhere to the following standard of dress guidelines while on campus or while attending an off-campus school sponsored activity. Students may select from the following choices:
Acceptable Attire
- VGPA Polo Shirts - long or short sleeve
- VGPA T-Shirts - long or short sleeve shirts
- Pants - Any color of pants, jeans (no holes), leggings are all acceptable
- Shorts - Any color of shorts (must be appropriate in length)
- Skirts - Any color of skirts (must be appropriate in length)
- VGPA Sweatshirts, Jackets and all Winter Wear OR must be a solid color of White, Black, Gray, Green, Blue, Gold
Items NOT Acceptable at School
- Baseball caps, hats, beanies or bonnets inside the building
- Boots, Crocs, jelly shoes, sandals, flip flops or shoes with heels exceeding one inch
- Tattoos
- Gauges or excessive ear rings
- Shorts/Skirts that are shorter than 1 inch above the knee
- Baggie pants, pants with hems dragging on the ground
- Pants with holes, or pants that are too tight
- No Pajamas
Note: Students can wear uniforms with either the old logo or the new logo. This means that both designs are acceptable, and students have the choice to wear uniforms featuring either one.
Students are expected to be in uniform everyday outside of dress down days.
The dress code policy is in place to ensure an equitable learning environment for ALL students free of disruption.