Parent Resource Dashboard

STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES

Regular attendance is vital, however, so is protecting the health and safety of Mountainside students, families, staff, and community members. It is imperative that students who have an active fever are not sent to school, even if that fever is controlled by medication. Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent, and whenever possible, please schedule doctor, dental and therapy appointments after school hours.
If you are calling the night before to report an absence or illness, please leave a message. Attendance will be taken within the first 5 to 10 minutes of the school day. To enter a class late, a child must obtain a pass from the office.
To report your child absent or tardy, please call the school’s main office at (719) 382-1430. If you call prior to 0700 you may leave a voicemail identifying yourself, your child, and the reason for your child’s absence.

The following are excused absences. However, ALL absences are unexcused until we receive parent communication regarding the reason for the absence.
● Suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 infection, direct exposure to someone with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 infection
● Personal illness. If the illness exceeds three consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required.
● Death of a relative (provide documentation)
● Observance of religious holiday
● Military block leave- up to 5 school days with a copy of military orders
● Doctor, dental and therapy appointments with proper documentation (If possible, please schedule such appointments after school hours.)
● Emergency situations- such cases may be approved by administration on an individualized basis

The following are unexcused absences:
● Personal illness that exceeds three consecutive days without a doctor’s note – While we understand illness happens; a parent phone call or note will not constitute an excused absence if it extends past the three-day timeframe.
● Military block leave without orders
● Family events- vacations, birthdays, family visits, other family members’ appointments, etc.
Attendance is recorded for the morning (AM) session and the afternoon (PM) session. Each session is considered a one-half day of attendance/absence. Two one-half days of absence equal one full day of absence.
Attendance Codes:
● Tardy – Student arrives between 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. (0730-0900)
● Part Day A.M. absence – Student arrives between 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (0900-1100) OR student leaves before 11:00 a.m. (1100) and returns to school.
● Part Day P.M. absence – Student leaves after 11:00 am (1100) and returns to school.
● Half Day A.M. absence – Student arrives between 11:01 – 1:00 p.m. (1101-1300)
● Half Day P.M. absence – Student leaves between 11:00 – 1:00 pm (1100-1300) with no return.
● Reverse Tardy – Student leaves between 1:00 – 2:25 p.m. (1300-1425)
● Policy around excused vs. unexcused

o Documentation is required for students absent after 3 consecutive days for illness, or if the student is on an attendance plan
o All absences are unexcused until we receive parent communication regarding the reason for the absence.

 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

Walking: Plan a safe route for your child. Students are not permitted to ride bikes, skates, or wear shoes with wheels, etc. on school property. Children should be encouraged to respect other people’s property by not taking shortcuts, staying off lawns, and out of flower beds. They should be warned about accepting rides, talking to strangers, and playing in the streets. Student conduct off of school grounds must be monitored by parents.

Drop-offs: Students may be actively dropped off along the sidewalk of our front parking lot, and buses will drop students at our traffic circle. Please follow these guidelines for a successful and stress-free drop-off experience:

1. Child is ready to get out of the car (fully clothed, backpack ready, breakfast eaten if breakfast is provided at home, etc...).
2. "Good-byes" and "Have a nice day" messages are said before pulling into the drop-off zone.
3. Follow guidance of Mountainside personnel and pull forward as far as possible in the drop-off zone before unloading children.
4. Driver must remain in the vehicle.
5. If your child is going to take time to unload due to larger projects, is not ready to exit the vehicle, or needs to finish eating then please park in the overflow parking lot.
6. Child exits the vehicle on the passenger-side of the car. (exit and entrance should be from the curbside of the vehicle)
7. Once your child is unloaded please follow the car in front of you to exit the drop-off zone (please be patient and safe).

Pick ups: Students may leave Mountainside at the end of the school day in one of four ways: walk home (or to a care-giver), car pick-up, meet a parent on the playground and walk to the parking lot, or take the bus to daycare.**

The bell will ring at 1425 releasing students from school. Students will remain in their classrooms with their teachers to be dismissed in the following manner:
- Bus riders will be called to dismiss to load the buses when the buses arrive.
- Once all bus riders have been dismissed, grade levels will exit the building and line up in their assigned locations at the front of the building. If they are not riding a bus, kindergarten students will remain with their teachers until picked up by a sibling or dismissed directly to a parent/guardian. Parents who drive to pick up kindergarten students must first park in the overflow parking area and walk to the kindergarten dismissal area for student pick-up. Kindergarten students will not be released to cars in the turn-around lane.
- Parents please communicate to your child's teacher the way he/she will be leaving school at the end of the day. If this should change throughout the school year, then please communicate the change to your child's teacher in writing. Please make sure your child knows where to go at the end of the school day.
- If your child’s plan changes during the day, please contact the school by phone at (719) 382-1430 before 1345 so we are able to get your instructions for that day to your student and the student’s teacher.

Students who walk home: Students may walk off campus via the sidewalk down Fort Street toward Harr Ave. Due to Fort Carson construction projects, the sidewalks toward Aachen Drive are not available at this time. Mountainside Elementary School adheres to the student supervision guidelines provided by Fort Carson’s Garrison Command in the 2013 memorandum.

Students who meet their parents: Parents will need to park in the overflow parking lot and meet your child at the front of the building. Students will be waiting with their classroom teacher.

Students who are picked up by car: Students will wait with their teachers until the parent's car arrives in the pick-up zone. Students should enter the car from the curb side. In order to keep the traffic flow moving, stay in your car and don’t park. Follow directions and guidance from school staff in the pick-up lane to keep traffic flowing and students safe.

Students who ride the bus: Teachers will safely load students on the bus at the end of the day.

**Kindergarten students must be picked up by their parent and/or an older sibling from the Kindergarten playground/courtyard. Parents, please use the lower parking lot to park and then follow the sidewalk from the parking lot to the kindergarten classroom area. Children in Kindergarten are not allowed to walk home without being accompanied by a parent, caregiver, or older sibling (per 2013 Memorandum from Ft. Carson’s Garrison Command).

Entering and Exiting the building: Students eating breakfast may arrive at 0700 to enter the cafeteria via the music hallway doors. Students not eating breakfast at school should arrive no earlier than 0710. There is no outside adult supervision prior to 0710. Students are expected to enter and exit the building through their designated grade entrances. Kindergarten and students eating breakfast will enter through the music hallway doors. First and second graders will enter through the east main entrance. Third, fourth, and fifth graders will enter through the courtyard entrance. See the attached map for specific door assignments.
When leaving school at dismissal time, students are escorted to the pick-up zone by their classroom teacher. Older siblings will meet their younger siblings at the younger child’s classroom teacher waiting area. Bus riders will dismiss through the music hallway doors. Kindergarten students will be dismissed from their classrooms into the kindergarten playground/courtyard area. All other students will dismiss with their classroom teacher through the east main entrance doors.

All adults entering the building during school hours must enter through the main entrance to the building, provide a state or government issued ID, and will receive a visitor badge that must be worn at all times while in the building.

Pets: DO NOT bring pets on school grounds. Only trained service animals are allowed on school grounds. Students may be afraid of and/or allergic to them. If you have questions please see the district's animal policy.

School Nurse Contact-
Mountainside Elementary:
Rachel Glickel
rglickel@ffc8.org

Student Health Information 

 

 

PAY MEALS ONLINE

 FFC8 SCHOOL MENUS

FEDS Form
(Free & Reduced Meal Application)

FFC8 NUTRITION SERVICES PAGE

 

The primary method to notify all district employees, parents, and students of school closing is through our mass notification system in Blackboard, which will come via text, email, and phone. We will also post a pop-up message on the homepage of our website for visitors accessing information here, as well as push a notice through FFC8 Twitter and Facebook.

Click on the button for more information on the district's emergency and school closure procedures. 

Emergency/ School Closure Info

TRANSPORTATION PAGE

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We are proud to provide safe and reliable transportation daily for your child.

Address: 11355 Old Pueblo Road, Fountain, CO 80817
Phone: 719-382-1335