Student Handbook

Attendance

Regular school attendance is necessary for mastery of the educational program provided.  State law requires students to attend school regularly and to be punctual.  Absent or late students miss valuable coursework and instruction, and may fall behind in their education. This is true even for excused absences.  Families are encouraged to not schedule appointments, vacations, or other events during school hours.  Acceptable reasons for an excused absence include:  illness, emergency, and religious or cultural holidays.  According to state and district policy, vacation during the school year is unexcused. Parents are asked when possible to call Hilltop at 206-631-4000 before 9:00 am; otherwise submit an excuse via phone, e-mail or written note upon the student’s return to school. Repeated unexcused absences or excessive excused absences results in the Becca process being set in motion.

Becca Guidelines

An unexcused absence is one that the parent has not provided a valid excuse by calling or providing a note.

After one unexcused absence, the parent or guardian will be notified.

After two unexcused absences, the school makes personal contact with the parent or guardian.

After five unexcused absences in a month,  there will be a conference held with the parents. The district shall enter into an agreement with the student and parents. If such action is not successful, the district shall file a petition and affidavit with the juvenile court no later than the seventh unexcused absence within any month or the tenth unexcused absence during the current school year.

An excused absence is when a parent has provided a excuse for the absence by providing a note or calling the school. 

5 or more excused absences in a single month, or ten or more excused absences during the school year: A conference will be held with the school and parents. 

Children in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades only may ride bicycles to school. Highline Public Schools and King County police require helmets to be worn anytime a bicycle is ridden.  Please emphasize the importance of walking bicycles across busy intersections and supervised crossings. Students must walk their bicycles on the school grounds. Each student must have a lock to secure the bicycle in the racks. Roller blades, skateboards, scooters and other similar types are not allowed on school property during school hours. Highline Public Schools is not responsible for loss or damage to bicycles.

Hot meals and breakfast are served daily at Hilltop. Breakfast is served in the cafeteria between 8:15 and 8:40 a.m. each day. Breakfast and lunch may be purchased with cash, check or money order at school, or online with a credit card to a student’s prepaid Mealtime account. Checks and money orders sent to school should be made out to Hilltop Elementary. Deposits made online are available the next business day.

Students arriving late to school have the option of a “Grab and Go Breakfast”.

Food may only be consumed by students and must be consumed in the cafeteria. Adults who wish to eat must purchase a meal.

Breakfast & Lunch Prices

Current prices and menu are online at highlineschools.org under Nutrition Services. You may apply for free/reduced meals at https://apply4meals.hsd401.org.

Mealtime account balances automatically roll over into next year’s account while your child is enrolled in the district.

Free & Reduced Meal Applications

Applications are mailed to homes of enrolled students during the summer. These applications must be completed every year and returned for the current year even if you qualified in previous years. Additional applications are available in the school office. Although a student may qualify for free or reduced lunch, he/she must pay 50¢ for milk if purchased without a lunch. There is no reduced cost when purchasing milk only.

Forgotten Lunch or Lunch Money:  If a child forgets his/her lunch or money, a cereal, milk, and salad bar will be provided. An attempt will be made to contact parents if your student doesn’t have a lunch or money.  The office does not have an emergency fund for student lunches. 

Questions? Call Nutrition Services at 206-631-3010.

Our Schools Protect Students from Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying. Schools are meant to be safe and inclusive environments where all students are protected from Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), including in the classroom, on the school bus, in school sports, and during other school activities. This section defines HIB, explains what to do when you see or experience it, and our school’s process for responding to it.

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Hilltop has established procedures/routines for all common areas.  Common areas are the playground, hallways, cafeteria, restrooms, library and the school grounds.  Students are taught the procedures so they understand the behaviors that will contribute to a safe and productive learning environment.

The goal of the Hilltop discipline policy is to ensure student safety and increase responsible behavior by having clearly defined behavior expectations that are taught, practiced and reinforced. The expectations emphasize Hilltop’s 3 Rs by being Respectful, Responsible, and doing the Right thing. They describe the excellent behavior currently practiced by the vast majority of Hilltop students. All staff members encourage responsible behavior through positive interactions and feedback to students.  Consequences, verbal reminders and feedback are used to help students be more successful. Logical consequences are used when behavior is recurrent. Problem solving, conflict resolution, and restitution form the basis of all discipline. 

Minor Infractions

All minor infractions are handled on the spot; i.e., in the classroom, on the playground, or other areas of the school. Examples of minor infractions include blurting out in class, not following directions or a classroom rule, chewing gum, etc. Minor infractions that are recurring may be referred to administration as a major infraction.

Major Infractions

All major infractions will be referred to administration. Major infractions include behaviors such as assault, bullying, defiance, fighting and harassment. Referrals to administration will be disciplined in accordance with the guidelines published in the Highline Public Schools, Responsibilities and Rights, Students, Parents, and School Personnel found in the front section of the student wall calendar provided by Highline Public Schools.

Each week, we focus on one of the guidelines or an area of academic growth for Husky Pride Club. 

Articles of clothing found on school grounds are hung on the clothes rack in the 400 building hallway. Please label your child’s clothing and other belongings with their first and last names. Articles left in the Lost and Found longer than 30 days will be donated to charity.

In the case of a family emergency, we will do our best to communicate a message from a parent/guardian to their student. Be aware that the office becomes extremely busy at the end of the day so changes to daily routine (how to get home, who to walk with, where to go after school) need to be arranged before students come to school. Messages from people other than those listed on the student’s Emergency Information Card will not be communicated to the student.

Personal items such as toys, electronic games, cell phones, cameras, radios, speakers etc. are not allowed at school. The school is not responsible for valuables or toys that students bring to school.

If a student brings a cell phone (for emergencies only) with parent permission, it must remain in a backpack and turned off.  Any use of a cell phone on school property, including covered areas, from 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. will result in the phone being taken and held in the office until a parent can pick it up.

Students may use the office or classroom phone for emergency situations to contact parents/guardians after receiving permission from their teacher. Phone use privilege does not include making last minute social arrangements or arranging rides home in inclement weather. If you need to speak with your child, we will arrange for him/her to come to the office during recess time and return your call. Do not phone or text message your child’s cell phone as they are required to keep it turned off and away in their backpack.

Parent/community volunteers serve as a vital link between home and school by providing a variety of services.  Home and school partnerships show children that school and learning are important. There are a variety of volunteer positions available for interested persons. 

In order to protect our children, the Washington State Legislature has mandated that all volunteers be cleared before being allowed to volunteer in the classroom or chaperone a field trip.  Forms are available in the office and clearance must be complete prior to any volunteer activity, including in the classroom or building. If you have completed a clearance form in a previous year, please check in the office to make sure it is still valid.