School Hours/Transportation School hours are 8:05 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. for 1st through 8th grade. Half day Kindergarten hours are 8:05 - 10:45 a.m. or 12:00 - 2:45 p.m. Transportation to the school is not provided by the district and is the responsibility of parents..

School Tours Additional information about this program is provided on the school tours which are normally conducted on the second Tuesday of each month between October and March beginning at 11:00 a.m. Contact the school office to confirm the date and time of the next tour.

Entrance Procedures As an alternative school, openings at Northern Lights ABC are filled via the Anchorage District lottery process. Lotteries are held each July and March. Applications for the lottery are available in the school office. The next lottery will be held on July 31, 2009. All lottery paperwork must be in the school office by the end of the school day on July 30, 2009.

STARTING WITH THE BASICS

It is essential that children learn how to use the English language and basic math early in their educational experience. Intellectual development
includes mastery of basic skills in all areas -reading, Saxon math, spelling, Spalding phonics, penmanship, problem solving, and study habits. Our students achieve maximum learning through careful and sequential teaching, thereby receiving a solid academic foundation.

WHOLE GROUP INSTRUCTION

Whole group instruction is the traditional method of teaching delivery where one teacher is at the front of the classroom teaching to the entire class of students at the same time. Students are not grouped according to ability and provided individualized instructional materials.

STUDENT ABSENCE HOMEWORK REQUEST

As a parent I am expected to call the office each morning my child is ill. In the event your child is absent, if you wish to request homework assignments please do so by 10:00 AM so the teacher has ample time to gather it together. All homework is to be picked up in the office after 2:4 5 PM.
Teachers are not expected to prepare homework in advance for family vacations.

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:40 AM Breakfast served
7:50 AM Student drop off begins
8:05 AM Students Enter Building
8:15 AM Tardy Bell - School Begins
10:45 AM AM Kindergarten Dismissed
12:15 PM PM Kindergarten Begins
2:45 PM Dismissal for all grades
3:30 PM Office Closes

Failure to adhere to the above stated time requirements are possible grounds for revocation of zone exceptions. Please note that this policy includes excessive tardiness and late pickups.

ENTRANCE AFTER DISMISSAL

Students or parents may not enter the building to retrieve personal items or schoolwork after school has been dismissed for the day. This rule falls under Responsibility, one of our Character Building Blocks.

LUNCH SCHEDULE

5-6 grade 11:00-11:20 lunch 11:55 recess ends
3-4 grade 11:25-11:45 lunch 12:20 recess ends
1-2 grade 11:50-12:10 lunch 12:45 recess ends
7-8 grade 12:15-12:45 lunch

GRADING

Letter Grade Definition Percent
A Very High 94 - 100
B High 87 - 93
C Satisfactory 70 - 86
D Low 60 - 69
F Very Low Below 60

Students receiving a letter grade of "C" or above must be working and demonstrating satisfactory comprehension on materials appropriate to their assigned grade level.

GRADE VALUES

Report card grades for Primary (1-3) will be determined by using the test averages (50%) and the daily work averages (50%). Report card grades for Intermediate and Middle School (4-8) will be determined by using test averages (75%) and daily work averages (25%).

HOMEWORK

Carefully selected homework assignments will be assigned on a regular basis by each teacher in grades 1-8. Homework will be assigned a minimum of two or three times a week. All assignments should be turned in on time unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher.

NO NAME PAPERS

It is believed that all students in grades 1-8 should remember to place their names on assignments. After the instructor issues sufficient reminders during the first week, daily papers turned in with no name thereafter will be reduced by 10% for grades 1-3 and 50% for grades 4-8. Long-term assignments or important evaluation papers (exams) having a significant impact upon a student's grade will be accepted, but with a penalty. This policy applies to all students in grades 3-8.

LATE WORK

Unless otherwise indicated by the teacher, schoolwork will not be accepted which is late. Guidelines must be established and followed for students to learn personal responsibility and punctuality. One of our eighteen Character Building Blocks is Responsibility. Students should be responsible for writing down assignments and completing them in a timely manner. It is neither the teacher's nor the parent's responsibility to keep student's work current. Time is given daily to keep track of assignments and homework. Students learn and grow by taking responsibility.

STUDY HALL

A study hall will be implemented and supervised daily. Students not completing assignments will be expected to report to the study hall to complete work. Attendance in study hall can be for various reasons; to complete or make up work, receive additional instructional assistance or for punitive reasons. Students reporting to study hall must have all the items they need to complete their work.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DETENTION

Detention for Middle School students will be held Monday-Thursday from 2:45-3:30 PM. Parent notification is sent home the day of the offense giving the date and time the student needs to serve the detention.

SCHOOL TELEPHONE USE

Students are allowed to use the phone only for business or an emergency. Students must have permission to use the phone from their teachers. Calling to see if they can go home with a friend is not considered business or an emergency. Permission for purposes such as this will not be granted.

STUDENT RECOGNITION

Students will be given recognition for their achievements in a variety of school-related activities. Students may be recognized for achievements in the following areas: Academic, Deportment, Art, Music, Physical Education, Penmanship, Citizenship, Special (teacher generated).

ACADEMIC CRITERIA

A pupil attaining a CPA of 3.0 - 4.0 will receive a certificate at the end of each quarter and have his/her name placed upon the Honor Roll. Pencils for Honor Roll membership will also be given each quarter. Reading, Writing, Spelling and Math are averaged to obtain the CPA for primary grades (1-3). Reading, Language, Math, Spelling and Social Studies are averaged to obtain the CPA in grades 4-6.No student will be put on the honor roll if he or she has received any grade less than a "c."

CITIZEN OF THE MONTH CRITERIA

This student is responsible, follows classroom and school rules, exhibits leadership-being an example to others, shows compassion for others, is thoughtful in word and deed, extends courtesy to peers and adults, respects rights of other, works cooperatively with others, makes an outstanding contribution to the school and community, and exhibits the traits of our character building blocks. All criteria must be met.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Teachers have the option of recognizing students for a variety of reasons. Normally, teachers may recognize up to 20% of their students, quarterly.

DEPORTMENT CRITERIA

Students in grades 1-6 earning all "O"s (outstanding) in the conduct segment of the report card will have their names posted on the Honor Roll and will receive a certificate and a pencil.

ART CRITERIA

This student is chosen for their effort, creativity, responsibility with materials, their ability to get along well with others and believe in themselves.

MUSIC CRITERIA

This student is chosen for their effort during class. This student always tries their best, follows directions, is helpful and cooperates with their classmates. This student shares materials and is welling to do extra things that help the class.

P.E. CRITERIA

This student is selected for helping others willingly, encouraging and complimenting others, unconditional acceptance, good sportsmanship and always trying their best.

PENMANSHIP CRITERIA

Penmanship Awards are given to one student per month per classroom for either the best penmanship or the most improved during the month.

PARKING AND TRAFFIC Follow the flow of traffic. Please use the lane next to the front of the building and along the bike trail on Laurel Street to drop off and pick up students. Have children ready to exit the car. Don't fumble with backpacks, lunch money and other last minute activities. Have children exit the vehicle on the right side. Leave the area as soon as possible so that others can drop off their children. Park your vehicle in the designated parking areas if you will be entering the school building. If possible, back into your parking space for greater visibility when leaving. The red painted curb is a municipal fire lane. Vehicles that are left unattended can be ticketed. Students will line up at the door which has been designated for their classroom. In the event of rain or below zero temperatures, students will enter through the front door and line up in the MPR. Obey all posted speed limit and stop signs. Obey the directions of the crossing guard. If picking up or dropping off on Laurel Street use the pull out lanes. Do not block through traffic. Drive slowly, be patient and courteous and things will flow smoothly. Thanks for your cooperation!	NATURAL DISASTERS In the event of a natural disaster or major emergency which would cause our school building to be unsafe for occupancy, Northern Lights ABC students and the majority. of staff would evacuate to the YMCA. A campus site security team would remain at school to direct parents to the YMCA and maintain communication with the District's Emergency Communications Center. Only parents/guardians or authorized emergency contacts would be allowed to sign out students from the YMCA to go home. Proper identification would be necessary. SCHOOL CLOSURE All closures or changes in normal operations are reported to a selected list of AM and FM radio stations in the Anchorage area. The following radio stations will be notified of the status of school closures. http://twitter.com/ASD_Closures
	AM KBYR 700 KENI 550 KFQD 750 KHAR 590 KYAK 650	FM KASH 107.5 KBFX 100.5 KBRJ 104.1 KGOT 101.3 KKRO 102.0	FM KNIK 105.3 KLEF 98.1 KSKA 91.1 KWHL 106.5 KYMG 98.9

The Northern Lights ABC School expects the students and personnel to have high standards of conduct, appropriate dress, and appearance. The purpose of our dress code is to keep everyone's focus on academics. Anything that is done or worn for shock value or to attract special attention is not acceptable. The Principal makes the final decision in these situations.

Between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM all cell phones, MP-3, and CD players will be turned off and concealed. Otherwise they will be confiscated.

Students may not use unnatural hair dye or coloring (pink, purple, blue, green yellow, orange ete.)

Nail polish and make-up is not permitted in grades K-6. Middle school students may use a minimal amount of make-up and only clear nail polish.

Due to safety reasons, dangling earrings are not permitted for any grade level. No facial piercing of any kind, except in the ears, will be allowed during school hours for student.

Outer garments, including coats, jackets, hats, hoods or bandanas may not be worn in the building during class times. A fitted sweater or sweatshirt may be worn in class.

Clothing will be of the proper fit (not to exceed one (1) size beyond the correct size) and of the proper appearance (no bagging, sagging or have any modifications made). Pants must stay above the hipbones without a belt.
Undergarments are not to be seen at any time. This includes a bra if a shirt gaps (check when leaning forward) and underwear seen above the top of pants, including when seated.
T-shirts with sleeves cut off, shirts that are revealing, sheer, mesh, or skin tight are not allowed. Nor are tank tops, halter-tops, crop tops, or any shirt that leaves the midriff exposed, including when seated. Sleeveless shirts that are no narrower than the natural shoulder seam (about 3" wide) will be permitted.
Clothing may not contain inappropriate messages or logos for drugs, alcohol or tobacco.
All clothing will have finished hems, be clean and without holes.
Skirts, skorts and shorts will be no higher than 1" above the knee.
No flip flops, soccer slides, slippers, platform shoes or 'Heelys.' Shoes must be appropriate for the weather.
No sunglasses or non-prescription glasses will be worn in the building.

Useful Information