TMEMS Severe Weather Policy
Even though we are not an APS school, we follow APS for severe weather delays and cancellations. To find out if TMEMS classes are delayed or canceled, simply watch a local television station or listen to the radio. If APS has a delay, our classes will begin 2 hours past the normal time. This means students will start at 10:45 am (drop-off starting at 10:20 am). If APS cancels school for the day, we will also cancel school for the day. Please note that APS differentiates schools as "Mountain Schools" and "APS schools." We do not follow the mountain school delays or cancellations. If school is delayed or canceled before school care is also canceled. If school is canceled during the school day, After Care will also be canceled. In addition, please be sure to dress your child warmly; it gets cold on our playground.
Volunteering
Each parent that volunteers in the classroom or as a field trip chaperone must get a background check prior to their service.
Confidentiality is essential in all your involvement with students in the classroom. Your observations of individual students in the classroom cannot be discussed with anyone beyond the teacher and EA.
Volunteer Background Check Procedure
To get started volunteering at TMEMS/Casita, you will need to complete a background check through the FBI. Please go to our Background Check page for detailed instructions on how to complete a background check to volunteer at our school.
At the sole discretion of our Administration, an exception may be made if you can provide a copy of a background check (with fingerprint component) completed in the last 2 years from another public school or entity that requires a federal/state background check.
For the safety of everyone, background checks submitted will be reviewed by our Administration and must be approved before any applicant may volunteer in our classrooms or chaperone a field trip. Once approved by our Administration, your background check is good for the duration of the time your child(ren) attends Casita/TMEMS.
Background Check packets are available from the Montano campus office.
Medication
The State of New Mexico has very clear and simple guidelines for the administration of medication by state-accredited schools.
- All medication must be in the original containers.
- The school cannot administer any non-prescription medication including aspirin, aspirin substitutes, or cough syrup without a written order from a physician or parent that includes the child’s name, the dose, the schedule of administering, the physician's name, if applicable, and the date. Containers must be labeled with the child’s name and type of medication contained within.
In addition, The Montessori Elementary & Middle School/Casita requires that the following guidelines be followed by parents:
- All medication(s) must be accompanied by a signed form. (See above in Quick Links for forms)
- The medication(s) and this permission form must be delivered to the school in a clear plastic bag.
- All medications should be delivered to the front desk upon arrival at the school (not to the classroom teacher or sent in a child's bag/backpack).
- All medications will be given per the schedule as class activities permit.
NEVER send medication with the child to keep in their lunch box, bag/backpack, school drawer, or cubby. There is a serious danger that the child or another child might take the medicine or overdose.
Dress Code
For our complete TMEMS Dress Code see the TMEMS Parent-Student Handbook.
For our Middle School dress code shirts visit our TMMS Ad.it.up website.
Contagious Illnesses
When you have verification of the fact that your child has a communicable disease, please call the school immediately so that we can inform other parents. Because school children are easily susceptible to communicable diseases, the school reserves the right to make judgment concerning the child’s ability to participate in daily school activities. Please do not send your child to school when he/she is ill. We send sick children home!
Symptoms– The following is a list of symptoms to guide you in deciding whether your child should be sent to school. Please do not send your child to school on days when any of the following symptoms are present:
- Fever
- Rash
- Cough
- Discharge of discolored or profuse amounts of mucous from the nose
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Headache, body aches, general flu symptoms
If the children show any of the above symptoms, they are separated from the other children and allowed to rest. Parents are contacted to appraise the situation and determine what action is to be taken. If parents cannot be reached, then emergency numbers are called.
Attendance Policy
1. TMEMS students are allowed no more than five (5) unexcused absences per semester and no more than ten (10) unexcused absences per school year.
2. The parent/guardian must notify the school of each day the student will be absent with an appropriate explanation for said absence.
3. Absences may be excused for the following reasons with appropriate notification or verification
- Doctor’s appointment
- Death in the family
- Religious commitment
- Illness
- Family emergency
- Diagnostic testing
- School visit/interview
4. In the event TMEMS has not received notification of absence by a parent/guardian for three (3) consecutive days, the school will make a good faith effort to contact the parent/guardian.
5. Excessive excused absences may result in further inquiry from the Principal and a request for additional documentation.
6. Family vacations are considered unexcused absences, and it is expected that parents will schedule vacations during periods of time when school is not in session.
7. Students who are signed out before the end of the instructional day must have written documentation of the reason (as defined under excused absences) or are subject to the same consequences as tardy.
Absence Notification
If your child is absent for any reason, please notify the school of your child’s absence and the reason for the absence. We ask that you call and leave a voicemail at 796-0149 or send us an email at bjohnson@tmesnm.com with the following information:
Student’s name
Teacher
Length of absence
Reason for absence
Mandatory School Attendance
The Federal No Child Left Behind Act requires that states, school districts, and schools be held accountable for ensuring that all students meet high academic standards. On time, daily attendance is a critical component of this educational process. New Mexico law dictates that:
Students between the ages of five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age are mandated to attend public school, private school or a state institution.
TMEMS reports habitual truants to the Children’s Court Liaison office and to the State of New Mexico.
