To report the absence of your child, please call our attendance line at 303-734-5555. The absence should be called in by 8:45 am on the day of the absence or any day previous.

Parents should leave the following information: parent’s name, child’s name, teacher’s name, date(s) and reason for absence. Please call the attendance line in addition to any communication with your child’s teacher.

If you are unable to schedule your vacations during school breaks, please notify the office for attendance purposes. Also, inform your child’s teacher so that homework might be prepared in advance when possible.

Academic Program

 The curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning and to nurture curiosity in our students. Academic classroom programs in the core areas: Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, and Science are enhanced and emphasized by teachers in Physical Education, Music, Art, Technology, and Library. We believe that collaboration is a critical component in student success. Our staff works to provide a curriculum which offers a challenge to each student, yet assures us that all students learn certain concepts. We are also concerned about the social and emotional growth of the children and believe their self concept must be positive to insure good progress at school. If you are interested in more detailed information about the curriculum, please call the school office.

Back to top

Accidents

If an accident/injury occurs, the school office personnel will make every attempt to contact the student’s parents. If the parents are unavailable, the authorized emergency contact person will be notified. It is imperative that the office has at least one emergency contact person listed on the emergency card and enrollment form. It is also very important that current information is given to the office personnel so that your child’s records are always up-to-date.

Back to top

Birthdays

Birthdays are an exciting time for our children. If you plan to distribute birthday party invitations at school, please send one for each child in the class. Addresses for individual students are available in the school directory. If by chance an address is not in the directory, please contact the school office.

Contact your child’s classroom teacher about when and what to bring if you are planning on bringing treats. Many children do have allergies and some are life-threatening.

Back to top

Buses

Eligible Riders: A bus ride to and from school is provided if the home address is more than:

 

Children are not allowed to walk home if their bus is late unless they have permission from a parent/guardian.

 

Bus Routes: Please check the LPS website for bus route information. Click on the Parents tab and then click the link to Bus Transportation.

 

Prohibited Items: State regulation states that school buses shall not transport any items, material, or equipment that might endanger occupants of the bus. These include:

 

In addition, any item that could break or produce injury if tossed about inside of the bus shall be properly stored or secured. These include:

 

Authorized Passengers: State regulation requires that no one except school personnel and school children regularly assigned to a school transportation vehicle for a particular route and schedule may ride a school bus, unless s/he has received prior authorization from the appropriate school administrator. The transportation department will grant authorization to:

Permission to Ride a Different Bus: If your child will ride home with a friend or on a different bus, please send a note granting your permission so that s/he can give it to the driver. This helps us discourage students from riding a bus after school to a destination that you have not approved.

 

Parents will be notified if their child is abusing his/her bus privileges on the bus or at bus stops and appropriate action will be taken. It is hoped that parents stress the importance of proper behavior at the bus stop and on the bus so that each Hopkins student has a safe and happy ride to and from school.

Back to top

Calendar

A calendar of the schools important dates and activities are online at http://hopkins.littletonpublicschools.net/. The calendar is subject to change so please visit the website often.

Back to top

Communication

A content standard is a statement that describes what a student should know and be able to demonstrate in a specific subject. Expectations for each student increases each trimester.

The reason for developing standards is so students will know exactly what to expect of Littleton schools. With the 1993 passage of Colorado House Bill 1313, all school districts in Colorado were required by law to develop and implement academic standards by 1997. If you would like to see the content standards, please check the LPS website. Click on the Parents tab and click the Curriculum link.

Back to top

Discipline

One of the keys to a positive school experience is a discipline structure that promotes the development of responsible behavior. The emphasis at Hopkins is on maintaining an atmosphere which is conducive to learning, working and achieving. Our goal is to develop within each student another value: responsibility for one’s actions.

 

Maintaining discipline requires continuous effort, wisdom, understanding, and courage. It is of the utmost importance that parents, teachers and other school personnel cooperate in discipline matters. Student safety and appropriate student behavior continue to be a priority for the Littleton Public Schools (LPS). One important part of our responsibility is to be sure that students and parents understand what the rules are and what can happen if the rules are not followed. The Student Code of Conduct handbook is one of the most effective tools there is to keep students safe and to maintain a productive learning environment in our schools. We believe that it is important for students to learn and demonstrate appropriate behavior, not only for their own well being, but also for the important contribution that they can make to a positive and caring school environment.

Each year we revise the Student Code of Conduct as necessary and distribute it to every Littleton Public School (LPS) student. We do this not only to comply with state law, but so that students and parents will know what the rules are, what happens if the rules are broken, and what rights students and parents have.

 

We urge your attention to the various policies referring to use of technology and assure you that, while we have a high priority for supporting student use of technology and acquisition of "21st century skills", we also expect, and will enforce, ethical use of technology tools (JICDA, JICEA, JICF, JS). There are new provisions, in the policy for Student Interrogations and Searches (JIH) that allows for the search of any object in a student's possession, under certain conditions. This includes personal computers, cell phones, personal digital devices (PDA) and cameras, among other things. Please take the time to review this section as well.

 

All employees of the District shall be expected to share the responsibility for supervising the behavior of students and for seeing that they abide by the established rules of conduct.

When a student is not able to act in a responsible manner, he/she has the security of knowing that appropriate control and consequences will be provided. If a rule is broken, the student will make a plan to follow the rule in the future. Depending on the nature, seriousness, and/or frequency of the problem, appropriate action will be taken. An example would be referrals to the office may result in apologizing, missing a recess, correcting a mistake, replacing broken or stolen property, losing use of equipment, in-school suspension, out of school suspension, or in extreme situations, expulsion. Parents will be notified by mail and/or phone of discipline. Problems and repeated problems will result in a parent conference.

 

Behaviors for immediate referral to the principal:

 

Consequences for referrals to the principal (one or more of the following will occur):

 

The following behaviors would also be referred to the Principal (depending on the severity, frequency and developmental level:

We believe that a student’s behavior and attitude are related to his or her appearance. Our desire is to foster good grooming and neatness. We ask that you not allow your child to wear tank tops, tube tops, midriff or halter tops to school. sagging pants, chains, and t-shirts with profanity or reference to drugs and alcohol are not allowed. Hats may not be worn in the school building. Students may wear skirts or shorts if they fit properly and are not likely to cause a disruption in the learning environment.

It is essential that students dress according to the weather as they will be expected to participate in outside activities throughout the year.

Hair coloring: We discourage students from coloring their hair with colors that might disrupt the learning environment.

Back to top

Food Services

Students are encouraged to bring their lunch to school, however school lunches are available through food services for $2.25. Students can purchase lunch credits by sending them with a check. Food Services will continue to place reminder calls to parents if a child charges a lunch (if they have no credits left).

Breakfast  will not be available at Hopkins for the 2008-2009 school year.

Littleton Public Schools participates in the National School Lunch Program administered through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Child Nutrition Unit in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meals served through LPS Food Services meet 1/3 of the daily USDA meal requirements. Menus are based on the "New Menus" module supported through the Nutri-Kids nutrient analysis system. Food choices to each student are established on an offer versus served basis. Students are offered 5 food choices for each meal and may select 3-5 food items. Free and reduced applications, both in English and Spanish, are available through each school office and the district's administration offices.

Back to top

Food Services Charges

Students K-5 will be allowed up to three full lunch meals on credit. Once the loan has been repaid in full, the student will again be allowed to charge 3 meals.

Parents will be notified via phone each time their child charges a lunch. The phone message will contain a warning letting them know that when there are three charges on account, their child will no longer be allowed to charge. This will give parents a minimum of three days to replenish the student’s account either by bringing a check or cash to a member of the kitchen staff before school or by making a payment with a credit card on the internet at schoolpassport.com.

An alternative meal of ½ pint of 1% unflavored milk, two slices of cheese and four saltine crackers will be provided for any student with 3 outstanding charges who does not bring money to cover the charges and has no lunch from home.

A-la-carte items will not be charged to accounts that show even one outstanding charge. Adults will not be allowed to charge lunch or a-la-carte items.

Back to top

Health Room and Medications

Whenever possible, children should be given needed medication by their parents at home. Littleton Public Schools encourages parents to work with their doctors to prescribe dosages that can be given at home rather than at school.

 

However, if children must receive medication during the school day, it must be given by a registered nurse or someone under the direction and supervision of the nurse. The State Board of Nursing requires certain procedures be adhered to when a child must take medication at school, whether it is prescription or nonprescription medication.

Homework at Hopkins is valued as an important and meaningful part of the learning process. The purpose of homework is to practice basic skills, enrich and stimulate interest in content, reinforce class work, and to develop and improve learning and student skills. On days when there is little or no homework assigned, reading and practicing math facts would be helpful. It is expected that students, teachers, and parents will work together to instill good work habits beginning at an early age.

Guidelines: Homework should increase in both time and complexity as students move through each grade. Parents should expect students to have homework three to four nights a week in approximately these amounts:

K                0-10 Minutes simple tasks involving parents
1-2             15-20 Minutes reading and simple tasks involving parents
3-4             20-40 Minutes word study, reading, math, and some projects
5                 40-60 Minutes word study, reading, math and some projects

Teachers understand that “lead time” and predictability are helpful for our busy families and those assignments for the next day can sometimes be problematic.

Reminder: Homework does not include an individual student’s unfinished work assigned in class or make-up assignments due to absences.

Back to top

Immunization Requirements

Children who do not have the required immunizations or who are not in the process of completing them will not be allowed to attend any public or private school in Colorado. Children who are in the process of obtaining the required vaccinations will not be denied admission to school. Children may be exempted from immunizations for medical, religious, or personal reasons.

The state law requires Hepatitis B and Varicella immunizations in addition to the standard vaccinations for all children attending day care or preschool, entering kindergarten through second grade, or entering seventh through ninth grade. In addition, all students seventh through twelfth grades must now have boosters for measles, mumps, and rubella.

Parents should contact their family physicians for immunizations. Parents may call 303-451-0123 to set up appointments for low-cost immunizations from Tri Country Health Clinics.

For a copy of the required forms or for more information, contact the Hopkins front office.

Back to top

Mark Hopkins Accountability Committee (MHAC)

The Mark Hopkins Accountability Committee (MHAC) is charged with advising the principal on the long-term direction of the school. MHAC is a district mandated committee that is responsible for advising on the following issues:

The PTO at Hopkins is an important part of the school. They are involved in fund raising, parent education, school support, and other projects. Your involvement is encouraged and appreciated.

Back to top

Recess

Recess is considered an integral part of the school day. We feel that if a student is well enough to be at school they are well enough to go outside for recess. Supervision is not available in the building during recess. All students will be kept inside if the weather warrants. Otherwise, all students will be expected to go outside for recess unless we have a doctor’s note saying they must be kept indoors. A variety of games and activities are available for students at recess.

Back to top

School Directory

As one of their projects, PTO prints a school directory each year for all families who wish to participate. Each year, permission must be given by the parent on the form provided by the PTIO in order to have their child listed in the directory. Orders for directories are taken and a minimal charge is collected. They are normally distributed in late August or September.

Back to top

School Hours—Drop off and Pick up

On normal school days, school starts at 8:36 pm and is dismissed at 3:13 pm.

The school office is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday—Thursday, and

until 3:45 pm on Friday. If your children do not ride the bus or walk home,

please be sure they are picked up at 3:13 pm, when classes are dismissed.

 

Early/Late Arrivals: Students are admitted to the building at 8:31 am unless there is a prearranged adult supervised activity scheduled before that time. Otherwise, all students must remain outdoors until they picked up by their teachers at 8:31 am. If your child arrives at school after starting time at 8:36 am, he/she must check in with the school office to receive a pass before going to class. To excuse a late arrival in advance, please call the attendance line at 303-734-5555.

Picking up/Dropping off Children: To ensure the safety of our students, anyone picking up a child early must check the child out from the school office. Your child will be called to the office upon your arrival. We do not have students waiting in the office for an early pick up nor do we call students down to the office before their parent arrives to sign them out. If anyone other than the parent or guardian is to pick up a child from school, prior arrangement must be made with the school office. We will request I.D. from non-parents. All visitors must enter through the front entrance to get their children

 

It is a disruption to the classroom when students are tardy or are picked up during the last few minutes of the school day. If it is necessary to pick your child up between 2:45 and 3:13 pm, please send a note that morning. Otherwise, please wait until your child is dismissed at 3:13 pm.

 

We do not have adequate supervision outside in the mornings before 8:25 am. Please do not send your child early to school to play on the playground. Students should arrive by 8:25 am, line up with their classes and enter the building with their teachers at 8:31 am.

Back to top

 

In the event of inclement weather during arrival, red flags will be placed in front of the school signifying an inside arrival. Students should proceed to the cafeteria to be picked up by their teachers.

Back to top

Student Fees/School Supplies

We charge a nominal amount for books that are damaged beyond normal usage. Lost books are to be paid for in full. Students are expected to provide basic supplies. Your child’s teacher will inform your child about what supplies will be needed. Also, some teachers might add fees for unique classroom materials.

If you need financial assistance with the cost of supplies, please contact Drew Brueckner, Principal.

Back to top

Toys/Electronics at School

School phones are for school business and emergencies only. Students are not allowed to use school phones for arranging after-school plans with friends. Such arrangements must be made before the school day or after arriving home.

Back to top

Visitors

The most up to date information on weather related conditions can be found on the district website.

In case of emergency or severe weather conditions, please tune in to the following radio or television stations for information on changes in school schedules. Stations will be contacted no later than 6:30 a.m. for late starts and school closures, and as soon as possible for early dismissals.

Since media stations are often not able to make detailed emergency announcements, it is important that you become familiar with the delay schedules. A sheet with the complete delay/closure procedures will be sent home at the beginning of the year.

AM Radio

One half-hour delay for school start times and bus pickup times. Elementary school start time for ALL students is 9:06am.

 

Walkers and those who use private transportation should plan to be at school at the delayed start time -- not before.

All levels, including morning kindergarten, will be dismissed at their normal times unless notified otherwise.

Please note: During inclement weather, bus pickups may be delayed by congested traffic even though a delayed start has not been declared.

Back to top