Please be sure to fill out our New Scholar Info Sheet using the QR Code found near the bottom of this page (to be added soon). If you have already done this for another class or at the New Scholar Orientation (NSO), you do not need to do it again.

The PSC is dedicated to supporting the ASK Academy staff and scholars in school activities. 

 

To find out how you can support PSC, or simply stay informed as to what the PSC is doing, please message them at [email protected] or contact Cheryl Kemnitz, PSC Facilitator at 505 688-2455.

 

Grades - Scholars will send grade check emails to parents/guardians through their Fundamental Connection class on Tuesdays, but please check PowerSchool regularly. If your scholar has C’s or below in Math, English Language Arts, or any other course they should come to Friday support and check in with the appropriate project manager for help.

 

Plagiarism - Will not be tolerated. Any assignment with suspected plagiarism will receive a zero.  Plagiarism includes:  to take a test in a dishonest way, copying somebody’s homework, or by improper access to answers on classroom assignments, tests or homework, copying work done by somebody else or artificial intelligence and claiming it to be your own. This includes parents completing assignments for the scholar. Plagiarism also applies when work is taken from another source without acknowledging that it is another person’s work. It applies to documents, excerpts from documents, theories, calculations, drawings or any other creation that is not completely the scholar's original work. If another person’s work is used, it must be cited appropriately (we will go over this in class). Cutting and pasting without citation is plagiarism (especially with the advent of Chat GPT, Google Bard, and many other Artificial Intelligence powered search engines and websites.

 

**8 to 4 is a long day. Please make sure your scholar is eating a healthy breakfast everyday, either brings lunch money or packs a lunch, and brings a midday snack. Also, hydration is key. Please make sure your scholar brings a refillable water bottle every day.

 

For security, the campus gate will not open until 7:30 am (when staff is onsite) and will close at 8:00 am.  If you arrive after the gate has closed, you will need to press the green alarm button to call the office to request access. ASK Academy scholars are expected to arrive on time (8:00AM) and be adequately prepared for their day. Please contact The ASK Academy on the website at: https://www.theaskacademy.org and click the Attendance link on the home page or call 505-891-0757 to notify us of your scholar’s absence. 

 

Scholars will receive lunch detention if three tardies are reached.

All scholars arriving between 8:01 and 8:10 will be considered tardy, but may proceed directly to class. Scholars arriving after 8:10AM must sign-in at the office with their parent/guardian. Scholars arriving after 8:30AM must sign-in at the office with their parent/guardian and will be considered absent from that class. Scholars will not be allowed to sign in without a parent or guardian. While regular attendance is required, SICK SCHOLARS SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME.

 

Please contact The ASK Academy to notify us of your scholar’s absence.

 

New Mexico Attendance for Success Policy

The ASK Academy is committed (and legally obligated) to enforce the New Mexico Attendance for Success Act. Please see the Scholar and Parent Handbook Appendix p. 64-70 for the Academy’s Attendance Policy and procedures.

The Academy’s attendance requirements are consistent with a scholar’s obligation to attend and a parent/guardian’s obligation to ensure that their scholar attends school. The ASK Academy expects that every parent will consider regular and timely attendance to be imperative to their scholar’s educational success.

 

Consistent with the Attendance for Success Act, ASK will implement a three-tiered system of interventions for absenteeism.

Individualized Prevention: 5% - 9% Absenteeism

- Meet with Attendance Support Team

- Identify barriers to school attendance

- Inform parents of strategies and interventions available

- Develop Attendance Contract

Early Intervention: 10% - 19% Absenteeism

- Meet with Attendance Support Team and Administration

- Develop Early Intervention Plan

- Institute weekly progress monitoring

- Review consequences of continued absenteeism (loss of credit, CYFD referral, etc.)

Intensive Support: Absenteeism in excess of 20%

- Meet with Attendance Support Team and Administration

- Establish non punitive consequences and school level supports

- Revise Intervention Plans

- Discuss referrals to outside agencies (Probation Services and/or CYFD)

 

Within five days of a parent/guardian’s written request, ASK Academy will provide a parent/legal guardian with access to the attendance data of that parent/guardian’s scholar, including information about any intervention strategies that have been employed to help the scholar improve the scholar’s attendance.

Please see New Mexico Attendance for Success Act as outlined in the Scholar and Parent Handbook Appendix for additional details.

 

Excessive Absences - Scholars with excessive absences, approximately four (4) days per semester or eight (8) days per academic year will be referred to the Attendance Support Team for intensive support/intervention plans. Also note that high school scholars with excessive absences are in danger of losing credit for coursework. Attendance is of utmost importance for scholars to be able to participate, learn, and demonstrate competency of the course standards.

 

A scholar may be excused for parent- or doctor-authorized medical reasons. ASK will require a written verification from the scholar’s licensed health care provider if a scholar is absent for three (3) or more consecutive school days due to the scholar’s health. Subsequent consecutive absences will be counted as unexcused until such documentation is provided.

 

ASK will also require a written verification from the scholar’s licensed health care provider if a scholar is absent a total of ten (10) or more days during the academic year due to the scholar’s health.

 

Makeup Assignments - Assignments missed due to absences must be made up by the scholar. The scholar is responsible for obtaining his/her assignments from his/her project manager(s) and completing them within the time frame determined by the project manager(s).

 

If you have not done so already, it is time to order ASK uniform polo shirts from Turbo Threads, located at:

 

1503 Golf Course Rd. SE, Unit C,

Rio Rancho, NM 87154 505-999-1234

 

High School and Middle School Principals will do random Uniform Checks throughout the school year.  Please Refer to page 42 of the Scholar and Parent Handbook for complete Uniform Expectations. 

 

Freedom of expression, good judgment, respect for others, and safety are the foundations of The ASK Academy's approach towards scholar dress. The Academy requires that all scholars wear a prescribed uniform. Our “Dress for Success” Uniform Policy is meant to improve the learning environment and train scholars to see the importance of making a good first impression to professionals in the fields and careers related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This uniform policy is mandatory for all scholars. The uniform also serves as an identifier of who should and who should not be on Academy grounds. Clothing and accessories must be safe and non-distracting or disruptive to the educational program.

 

Uniform Policy

The Academy requires that all scholars wear a prescribed uniform. 

 

Tops (Shirts) – All scholars must wear an ASK polo shirt, with the ASK logo, purchased from an approved ASK vendor. The color of the ASK polo shirt identifies the scholar with their selected career pathway.  Polo shirts will not be overly baggy, nor exceedingly tight. Shoulder seams must be at the shoulders, and shirts cannot hang down below mid-thigh level.  Middle School – Red or Light Blue  High School –  Biomedical Sciences – Dark Green or Purple  Engineering and Design – Royal Blue or Burgundy  Bottoms (Pants) –  Allowable pants/slacks of solid color (khaki or black) and should meet our uniform expectations. They should be of a non-stretch, khaki or similar material.  No shorts, skorts, skirts, cargo pants (pants with many pockets) are allowed.  No excessive “sagging” is allowed. Inseam of pants must be where legs and torso join.  Excessively tight pants such as spandex, yoga pants, leggings, sweat pants or other non-uniform fabrics are not allowed. 

 

Footwear - Scholars must wear closed-toe shoes at all times at the Academy (no sandals, flip-flops, crocs, open-back shoes, slippers, or shoes made out of foam are allowed). Please remember that our learning spaces have sharps, blades, power tools, solvents, and acids so adherence to this policy is a priority. No headwear Hats, bandanas, beanies, headbands with extraneous distractors, etc. including sweatshirt hoods, are not allowed inside the Academy. Exemptions for headwear that may be required for religious reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

 

Outerwear - Jackets will not qualify as a replacement to an ASK polo. Jackets may be worn as long as they have a zipper front and are not excessively baggy (shoulder seams are at the shoulders and cannot hang below mid-thigh level). When worn inside, jackets must allow full view of the ASK polo (be worn unzipped indoors). Scholars can wear sweatshirts and hoodies under, but not over the ASK polo. Please remember that the ASK polo is one of our layers of security. Clothing or jewelry that are determined to pose a risk to potential injury while in the learning environment will not be permitted. Attire or accessories which advertise, display or promote any drug, alcohol, tobacco, gang, sexual activity, violence, disrespect or bigotry towards any group, or items that are associated with a gang are not permitted. All attire should be suitable for a professional environment.  

 

Procedure for Uniform Violations:

-Students will be sent to the front office by Project Manager or Administration.

-Front Office Staff will contact parents of scholars.

-Students will have the option to have parents bring uniforms or will be allowed to look through the closet and be allowed to borrow a uniform.

-Students will be sent back to class.

-After the third uniform violation the scholar will receive lunch detention.