• Doctor/dentist appointments (Please try to schedule after school.)
• Illness
• Death in the family
• Religious commitment
• Diagnostic testing

It is the parent's responsibility to notify the school when the student is absent. Please call the school at 881-9390 to report absences as early as possible in the day. If the school is not notified of the absence, it will be counted as unexcused.

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Tardies
Students that are tardy within twenty minutes after school has begun will be required by the office to bring a note from a parent, a telephone call from a parent, or the student accompanied into the office by the parent. This is necessary for the tardy to be excused, otherwise it will be an unexcused tardy and the child will have consequences. All tardies, whether excused or not, will have the following consequences:

• 1-3 Tardies: Classroom teacher consequence, parent contact on 3rd tardy
• 4th Tardy: 3 days lunch detention
• 5th Tardy: 3 days lunch detention - parent contact
• 6th Tardy: 2 days ISS - parent contact
• 7th Tardy: Community Service with Officer Higgins

*These apply for each semester

About McKinley's Accountability Card

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Cafeteria
McKinley offers a breakfast program and a hot lunch program on a daily basis. Students will have the option of buying lunch in the cafeteria or in the snack bar or they may bring a sack lunch that may be eaten in the cafeteria or in the patio area.

A free/reduced rate program is available to eligible students. Application forms for these federal programs are provided in the cafeteria. The forms must be completed and signed by the parents or guardian before any student may participate. The cafeteria manager, in accordance with federal guidelines, must approve participation in this program. Students need to memorize their student ID number in order to be processed through the computer.

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Homework
Homework is a necessary component of a student's education. Homework can reinforce, enhance and enrich a student's education. It can also prepare a student for new material, concepts, and skills, which will be covered in future lessons. Homework can contribute to the student's success in school, develop better study habits and provide a sense of responsibility for their own education. Homework should be meaningful and purposeful. Homework demonstrates to students the relevancy of what they learn to the real world and helps them to become life-long independent learners. Homework is required at all grade levels, however, not necessarily every night.
Make-Up Work

Students should request make-up work for excused absences. They have the same number of days they were absent to make up their work. Requesting make-up work is the responsibility of the student. If a student is ill and will be absent three days or more, parents may request homework through the counseling office. Please give our staff 24 hours to collect homework assignments.

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Immunizations
New Mexico law requires that students be immunized before registering for school. Proof of
immunization must be presented to the nurse before a student can register for school.

NM State Law requires that ALL 7th grade students be immunized for the Hepatitis B virus
before they can register or attend class. Proof of the start of the 3 shot series is required in order
to register for 7th grade.

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Textbooks
At the beginning of each school year students are loaned a complete set of textbooks. Students are also allowed and encouraged to utilize our library to check out books. However, THE STUDENT MUST PAY FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE TO TEXTBOOKS OR LIBRARY BOOKS.

Recommended charges for lost &/or damaged books are as follows:

1-3 Years After Purchase TOTAL COST

4 Years After Purchase....................... 3/5 of COST

5 Years After Purchase 2/5 of COST

6 Years After Purchase 1/5 of COST

SPECIAL NOTE #1:

Most textbooks cost between $20 and $40, so it can be very costly for you if you do not keep track of them. Almost every time a beak is taken from a locker, it is taken by a friend who happens to know the locker combination, who forgets his or her own book or just needs to borrow yours for just one day. We hear this story, or something similar many times throughout the year. Remember, your best friend today may be upset with you next week, so DO NOT give your combination to anyone, because if your books are taken, you are still responsible and must pay for them.

SPECIAL NOTE #2:

State Law (House Bill 93) directs school districts to withhold report cards and transcripts of students whose textbook and library fines are NOT PAID. This means that you would not be able to register for the next school year. Please do not let this happen to you.

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PTO - Friends of McKinley
McKinley has an active parent group that helps the school out in many ways. The only requirement for membership in this organization is interest. There are meetings once a month to discuss school issues, fund raising events and any issues parents have concern about. If you are interested in becoming a member of the FOM, simply attend a meeting.

We welcome any assistance from parents as volunteers. Help in classrooms or the office would be greatly appreciated. Contact the school administration if you are interested in becoming a volunteer.

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