Family Handbook

Arrival and Dismissal Information

The first bell will ring at 7:22 a.m. and school begins each morning at 7:30 a.m. (Monday through Friday). Any student arriving after 7:30 a.m. will be considered tardy and will need to report to the front office for a tardy slip. Students are to hand the tardy slips to their teacher once they enter their classroom.

August 11, 2026: First day of school for Grades K-5
May 27, 2027: Last day of school for all students

Early Dismissal Days: all students dismissed @ 11:30 a.m. on December 18, 2026, and May 27, 2027.

First Bell 7:22 a.m.
School Begins 7:30 a.m.
School Dismissed at 2:25 p.m.

Parking

There is no parking provided in the parking lot at the front of the school for morning dropoff (Chiles Ave). Parents who intend to walk students to the playground gate must park in the lot behind the school. Our front school parking lot is closed to all except authorized persons beginning at 6:45 a.m. Please do not park in designated staff parking spots. There are visitor spots at the front of the school for late drop-off and early pick-up.

Student Arrival/Dismissal

Parents may begin dropping students off at 7:05 a.m. using the car loop or walking up to the playground gate. Students should not arrive prior to this time as supervision will not be provided before 7:05 a.m. inside or outside of the cafeteria, or on the playgrounds.

When students arrive at school, they will proceed to either the cafeteria for breakfast or to the morning recess. Grades 2nd - 5th will utilize the big playground and kindergarten will use the 1st grade/middle playground. School staff will be located outside of the building to guide students to the appropriate entry door.
Students who arrive at the school via car will be dropped off at the back of the building via the car loop. Bus students (special ed students) will arrive at the front of the building off Chiles Avenue and enter through the gym doors.

Arrival Options

• Drop off (Car Rider)

  • Car Loop in back of Abrams Elementary School
  • Cars will be allowed in beginning at 7:05 am
  • Teachers will be on duty and can open car doors, but will not take students or supplies out of the car
  • Do not park and get out of your vehicle in the car drop-off line.
  • Students proceed through the gate located by the large playground to enter the cafeteria or the large playground (1st-5th grade). Kindergarten students utilize the 1st grade playground gate to access the playground

• Bus Students: 

  • Arrive at the front of the school
  • Students will enter the building at their designated entry spot to go to breakfast

• Walkers

  • Will follow same procedure as Drop off

• Mesa Day Care:

  • Will follow the same procedures as Drop off and Walkers. Daycare staff will walk students to the basketball court and dismiss them to their designated locations from there
• Parents are not permitted on the playground with students, even if signed in through the front office. This is for safety reasons

Dismissal

Every student will have a laminated dismissal card that they will hand to the teacher on duty at their dismissal location. Dismissal begins at 2:25 pm.

Kindergarten

• Kindergarten students who ride the bus will be escorted to the bus by teachers
• Daycare: Staff will take daycare students to the cafeteria
• Parent Walk Up: Parents will walk up to the kindergarten playground to check out their child with the child’s teacher.
• Car Riders: Parents will utilize the car loop in the back of the school. Students will be released from their teacher at the kindergarten playground and escorted to their car
• Teachers will collect student dismissal cards as their parents pick up the student.
   

1st-5th grade

• Bus: Students will be escorted by a teacher to the bus

• Daycare: Teachers will take daycare students to the cafeteria

• Walkers: Students will be dismissed from outside of the cafeteria, by the large playground

• Parent Walk Up: Students will be dismissed by teachers at the basketball court

• Car Riders: Parents will utilize the car loop in the back of the school. Students will be released from their teacher and escorted to their car.

• Teachers will collect student dismissal cards as their parents pick up the student.

Bikes

• Bike racks are located by the Learning Garden and the back of the building outside the cafeteria and are available for students who ride bikes to school.
• Students should ride bikes to school only if they are able to lock the bikes securely on the rack. Abrams Elementary School is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Students should always wear a helmet when riding their bike to school
• Bicycles are not to be ridden on the playground to avoid running into other students.
• When students arrive on the school grounds, they are to walk their bicycles to the racks and secure them. Students should also walk their bikes until they get off school property at the end of the day.

Bus

Students who qualify to ride the bus must be registered every year. You can do this online by visiting the FFC8 Transportation webpage. Bus transportation is limited to students who qualify through special transportation accommodations. Students riding the bus arrive around 7:10 am. This allows enough time for students to have breakfast. You can find bus routes and schedules on the transportation link. Contact the transportation office at (719) 382-1335 if you have any questions regarding transportation.

Change of Dismissal

When there is a change in pick-up plans for students, parents are asked to give the office staff prior notification by a note or a phone call. Pick up changes can be made until 2:00 PM by calling the office at 719-382-1490. No changes will be made after that time. This will ensure that teachers will receive the message in ample time to change their regular dismissal arrangements. Abrams Elementary School personnel are unable to allow a child to deviate from their normal route home unless these procedures are followed.

Early Pick Up

For safety reasons, parents will not be permitted to pick up their child after 2:10 pm. If a parent arrives at the front office after 2:10 pm, they will be directed to the child’s normal pick up location to get their child at 2:25 pm.

In the case of inclement weather in the morning, students will proceed directly into the building. Students will proceed to the cafeteria if eating breakfast; all other students will report directly to their classroom.
For inclement weather during dismissal, dismissal will occur as normal except for parent walk up. Parents will enter through the cafeteria and meet their student in the cafeteria.

Emergency Closure

When it becomes necessary to close the Fountain-Ft. Carson School District because of severe weather conditions, the announcement will be made through the Parent Square app, email, social media and on district and school webpages. A two hour late start means that all bus pick-up times will be moved back two hours (ex. a normal pick-up of 6:30 am would become 8:30 a.m). Please be aware that announcements for closures will list Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 as: “DISTRICT 8.” This description is used to differentiate the school district from the closures or delays that may occur on Fort Carson.

Breakfast/Lunch/Meals Information

All students will be able to eat breakfast and lunch for free under the Healthy School Meals For All legislation. The only cost to students will be for additional milk, price listed below. Adults may choose to eat school breakfast and lunch with their student at the below prices:

• Adult Breakfast: $2.50
• Adult Lunch: $4.75
• Additional Milk: $0.50
• Additional Lunch: $2.50

Eating with Your Child

Parents are welcome to eat breakfast or lunch with their child on any day. Parents must sign into the office in advance and receive a visitor badge. After eating, the parent must check out in the office. A parent cannot go back to the child’s classroom after eating without prior teacher consent. Lunch times are as follows for the 26-27 school year:

• Kindergarten: 10:35-11:00 am
• 1st Grade: 12:00-12:20 pm
• 2nd Grade: 11:30-11:50 am
• 3rd Grade: 12:30-12:50 pm
• 4th Grade: 12:30-12:50 pm
• 5th Grade: 11:10-11:30 pm

Calendar

View the FFC8 Student Academic Calendar. There you’ll find not only the current year calendar, but any future years that have been adopted by the Board. That is also where the district will post calendar information regarding assessments.

Newsletter

Abrams administration will send out an electronic newsletter every other week throughout the school year through Parent Square. Grade levels will send out a weekly newsletter to parents.

Parent Square

FFC8 will utilize the Parent Square app districtwide as the communication platform between the school and parents. Parents can elect to receive messages through the app, email, and/or text.

Communication or Parent Concerns

If a parent needs to communicate with their child during the school day, they may call the front office and the message will be relayed to the child at the appropriate time. Parents cannot expect to call or show up and speak to their child directly during the school day, as this is disruptive to the learning environment (exceptions to this will be made by school administration on a case-by-case basis).

If a parent has a concern, it is typically most appropriate to address it with the teacher first. If unresolved, parents are welcome to contact school administration.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

There will be two rounds of formal parent/teacher conferences held for the 26-27 school year, one in October and one in February. Families will schedule these conferences through a sign-up link that will be sent out on Parent Square. It is very important that you keep the scheduled conference time and that you are prompt. Any changes or delays may affect other families. Should you wish to conference with your child’s teacher at another time, please email or call your child’s teacher to schedule a mutually agreeable virtual or telephone conference time.

Report Cards

FFC8 uses a standards-based report card rather than the traditional A-F grading 10
scale. Students are to meet local and state standards for promotion in grades K-5 that include demonstrated proficiency on local assessments, standardized tests, and final progress reports/report cards. The purpose for report cards to inform students and parents about a student’s performance on the grade level standards. Information related to growth and overall strengths and needs will be discussed at conferences. Grades will be provided each semester and progress reports will be provided mid-semester. The report card is intended to communicate with the student and the parent about the student’s success in progressing toward grade-level standards for that grade.

Code of Conduct

At Abrams Elementary, students are expected to show respect for the rights and well-being of others through their behavior. Students must act in ways that support the educational goals of the school, while displaying safe and responsible behavior. At Abrams, expectations for student conduct are shaped collaboratively by students, parents or guardians, staff, and the wider community, fostering an environment that promotes self-discipline and character growth.

Students at Abrams are expected to:

• Adhere to all policies and procedures of Fountain Fort Carson School District 8
• Know and exercise positive modes of behavior and good manners.
• Accept the responsibility for their actions and the consequences of inappropriate behavior as outlined in the code of conduct.
• Respect the rights and well-being of others
• Treat others the way in which we would like and expect to be treated

Parents/Guardians at Abrams are expected to:

• Adhere to all policies and procedures of Fountain Fort Carson School District 8
• Model positive behavior and good manners.
• Work cooperatively with the school staff to ensure the well-being of all children.
• Insist on his/her child’s punctual and regular school attendance.
• Exercise respect and civility in all interactions with staff and students
• Explain, discuss and reinforce the code of conduct with his/her child

In order to help ensure a safe,respectful, and responsible learning environment, it is expected that a student shall:

• Be on time and attend every class every day
• Try their best on classroom work, assignments and daily tasks
• Assume personal responsibility for acting with respect
• Abide by school and district safety rules
• Take responsibility for your learning and behavior
• Comply with Board Policies governing appropriate dress and the proper use of electronic devices.
• Respect school property and help to keep it free from damage

Discipline

Bullying is any written or oral expression, physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental or emotional harm to another. Bullying is student-on-student behavior. Abrams Elementary will follow School Board Policy in bullying cases.

Bullying is any written or oral expression, physical or electronic act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental or emotional harm to another. Bullying is student-on-student behavior. Abrams Elementary will follow School Board Policy in bullying cases.

View School Board Policies

At Abrams Elementary, we are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and distraction-free learning environment for all students. Our dress code is designed to support student individuality while ensuring attire is appropriate for a school setting. Clothing must be modest, clean, worn as intended, and must not disrupt the educational process.

In the event of a dress code violation, families may be contacted to provide a change of clothing. Repeated or intentional violations may result in progressive disciplinary action. Please review and follow the guidelines below:

Tops – Permitted 12

•  T-shirts, tops, sweaters, and sweatshirts that are school-appropriate and worn as intended.
• Tops must cover private areas of the body and undergarments at all times, including when arms are raised.
• Tops – Not Permitted
• Clothing that exposes undergarments or private areas of the body.
• Oversized or baggy tops worn without proper layers underneath.
• Clothing with graphics or text that promotes alcohol, tobacco, drugs, profanity, violence, obscenities, or hate speech.
• Hats, hoods, or head coverings worn indoors (except for special events or with administrative approval).

Bottoms – Permitted

• Jeans, pants, walking shorts, athletic shorts, skirts, and dresses that are clean, worn as designed, and cover undergarments and private areas whether standing, sitting, or on the floor.
• Ripped jeans are allowed only if rips do not reveal inappropriate areas. Staff will apply discretion fairly and respectfully, recognizing that fit may vary across body types.
• Bottoms – Not Permitted
• Pants or shorts with excessive or gaping holes in inappropriate areas.
• Sagging, oversized, or ill-fitting pants that expose undergarments.
• Skirts, dresses, or shorts that do not adequately cover the body when worn as intended.

Footwear

Footwear must be safe and appropriate for school activities.

• Students should wear athletic shoes on PE days.
• Shoes with wheels (e.g., Heelys) are not permitted due to safety concerns.
• Hair, Jewelry, Hats, and Accessories
• Makeup or accessories must not distract from the learning environment.
• Headbands may be worn only to keep hair in place.
• Hats may only be worn during outdoor recess or outdoor PE, unless part of a designated Spirit Day or with administrative approval. 13
• No bandanas or head coverings indoors unless pre-approved for religious or medical reasons.

Note: Exceptions to the dress code may be made during school-approved Spirit Days and special events. Communication will be provided in advance.

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a framework supported by the Colorado Department of Education and El Paso County School District 8 to promote and maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. This is a school-wide strategy for helping all students achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning. Abrams Elementary is proud to be a part of this exciting initiative. 

As part of the PBIS program, we have four overarching behavior expectations we expect in all areas of our school: Respectful, Offer Kindness, Always Safe, and Responsible. Together these four expectations form our ROAR acronym. We explicitly teach those expectations to the students and reward them frequently with positive notes and prizes for their great behavior. The expectations for all student behavior will be clear throughout our building and playground areas, cafeteria, gymnasium, and classrooms. You will be able to ask your student, “What are the rules in your school?” “How do you follow those rules?” “What happens when a teacher sees you following the rules?”

Our schoolwide ROAR expectations specifically address bullying behaviors, provide for a safer school environment and give more time for instruction. We will apply consistent consequences and positive reinforcement for all kids. By detailing expected behavior and teaching to students in a positive way, we will provide a common language for everyone in our building, including students, teachers, front office staff and our paraprofessionals. 

We believe that by helping students learn and practice good behavior, we will build a school community where all students have an environment where they can succeed and grow. 

Show Me Your Paws:  When a staff member raises both hands, all students will also raise their hands, be silent, and listen to the staff member.

Positive reinforcement: Abram staff will use a variety of positive reinforcement systems to reinforce our ROAR expectations. 

• Use of Paw Cash to support positive behaviors throughout the school & school day (given by all Abrams staff members)
• ROAR Store: monthly ordering for students to spend their PAW Cash to purchase items
• Positive Office Referrals: located in the office, used to acknowledge positive contributions by students, shared during morning announcements
• Whole class incentive: teachers will have at least one whole class incentive to reinforce ROAR expectations as a class.
• Student of the Month (SOM) Assemblies: classroom teachers will nominate a student each month that demonstrates ROAR behavior. Monthly SOM Assemblies will take place during the school year on Friday mornings at 7:50 am. 
   

Counselor Services

Counselor services are available to every student in the school. The student determines directions and goals in counseling. With the counselor, a student may discuss and explore freely and in confidence any problem or feelings that are personally important. During counseling, these concerns may be talked through and examined, alternatives explored, and decisions made about future courses of action. Should the student find that special and/or additional assistance of some sort is needed, the counselor will assist in finding such help as may be needed. Parents are encouraged to talk to a counselor about any area of concern related to their children and the school. Should you have concerns about any of your students, check with the counselor. Together, you can form a plan to best serve the needs of the student.

Safe2Tell

Safe2Tell is a Colorado safety reporting program that allows students, parents, and community members to anonymously report concerns about safety—such as bullying, threats, or someone who may be at risk. Reports can be made 24/7 by calling 1-877-542-7233, through the mobile app, or online on the Safe2Tell website. For more information about the program, visit the Safe2Tell website.

Abrams Elementary has a full time registered nurse who will be assessing students, communicating with parents and assisting the school in making decisions in regard to student health. District guidelines are developed in conjunction with the El Paso County Department of Health.

Student Health Care Plans

If your child has a specific medical condition, asthma, diabetes, seizures, allergies or any other health conditions that may impact their functioning or safety at school, please contact our nurse at 719-239-1698. She will work with families to determine how best to meet student needs. 

Medications can be administered at school, but do require a doctor’s prescription. View the online health care forms.
 

The school office keeps an up-to-date enrollment card on file for each child. Parents are asked to inform the school office of any change in address or phone numbers immediately by checking in with the front office so that we have accurate, up-to-date information for all students. All parents must give a phone number (home, work, mobile, etc.) where they can be reached during the school day in the event of an emergency. All parents should have alternate contacts listed in the event that the school is unable to reach parents. If a student will be disenrolling from Abrams, we ask the parent to let the front office know right away.

Student Birthday Celebrations 

We recognize that student birthday celebrations are extremely important to students and families. Please follow the guidelines below for celebrating student birthdays. 

• All food items provided for classroom celebrations must be trans-fat free and commercially prepared. They will be given out at the end of the school day in the cafeteria or at the end of the lunch period. 
• Invitations for birthday parties will not be handed out by classroom teachers. 
• Please do not send balloons, flowers or gifts to your children at school. If items are delivered to the school, they will be held in the office until the end of the day.

The purpose of field trips is to enhance what is being taught in the classroom. Field trips are educational experiences. Parents will receive notices of field trips well in advance of the scheduled trip date and will be asked to sign a field trip permission form. If parents elect to not allow their student to go on the field trip, the student will be placed in another grade level classroom for the day. Parents who are providing supervision on field trips may not ride the school bus or bring additional children.

Articles of clothing and other items that are found will be taken to the lost and found coat rack/container in the corner of the cafeteria. If items are not claimed during a one-month period, they will be donated to charity.

All visitors to the school must provide a government-issued photo ID in order to access the building. Visitor ID badges will be processed using the RAPTOR system, which screens state and national databases for criminal behavior. Once the visit is approved, visitors will receive a printed visitor’s badge which must be worn in the building at all times. The badge must be returned to the front office as visitors leave the building. All staff members are asked to look for the visitor’s badge so that unwelcome and unwanted strangers are not able to go unnoticed throughout the school. This procedure is to ensure the safety of the children. We enjoy and encourage parents to visit and be volunteers at our school. We appreciate your understanding and support of this policy. The safety of our students is our number one priority at Abrams.

We also want to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. In order to be able to do so, we need your help. When you visit Abrams, please remember that we have a “voices off” policy. You are welcome to visit classrooms for non-disciplinary reasons by making prior arrangements with the classroom teacher. Any behavior-related visits need to be pre-approved by school administration and will require administration to accompany the parent to the classroom.

If you would like to speak to your child’s teacher, please send in a note or email the teacher to arrange a time to meet. The front office can also set up an appointment time outside of regular school hours for you to meet with your child’s teacher.

Parents are encouraged to volunteer at Abrams Elementary. All volunteers will be screened using the RAPTOR system. Regular volunteers may be asked to complete a more thorough background check. All volunteers will be expected to sign abide by the Abrams Elementary School Volunteer agreement. The volunteer agreement can be located in the Abrams front office

In FFC8, we believe that attending school every day, ready to learn, is one of the most important factors in a student's academic success and overall well-being. Regular attendance helps students build strong relationships with their teachers and peers, engage in meaningful learning experiences, and develop the habits and skills needed for future success. Every school day matters, and even occasional absences can make it more difficult for students to stay connected to learning.

At the same time, we recognize that circumstances sometimes make attendance impossible. Our goal is to partner with families to support students and achieve the highest possible level of attendance for every child.

If a student must be absent for a non-school-related reason, families should notify the school as soon as possible. Unless a student is already on an Attendance Success Plan, absences during the first ten days of the school year are excused when a parent or guardian notifies the school. No additional documentation is required during this initial ten-day period.

After a student has accumulated more than ten days of non-school-related absences, they are at risk of becoming chronically absent, meaning they have missed at least 10% of the school year for reasons unrelated to school activities. Chronic absenteeism is strongly associated with lower academic achievement, reduced engagement, and decreased likelihood of graduating prepared for college, careers, or military service. To ensure absences continue to be excused after the first ten days of non-school-related absences, families must provide appropriate documentation. Documentation is also required for any student who is currently on an Attendance Success Plan, regardless of the total number of absences.

In FFC8, our vision is for every grade to serve as an accurate, student-centered reflection of learning. Through evidence-based grading, students demonstrate their understanding and application of priority standards using clearly defined proficiency scales and rubrics that describe a progression toward mastery. Grades communicate a student's current level of proficiency based on the most recent and consistent evidence of learning.

Traditional grading systems often assign point values or percentages to assignments, quizzes, and tests, combine those scores into a single average, and report one overall course grade. While this approach provides a summary of overall performance, it can mask a student's strengths and areas for growth because the final average does not clearly communicate mastery of individual standards. A student may earn a passing grade while still having significant gaps in essential learning, or conversely, early struggles may continue to lower a student's grade even after they have demonstrated mastery.

FFC8's evidence-based grading model shifts the focus from accumulating points to demonstrating learning. Each priority standard is assessed independently using a common proficiency scale that describes increasing levels of understanding and application. Students receive meaningful feedback on their progress toward mastery and have opportunities to continue learning and provide additional evidence of their understanding. Academic achievement is reported separately from essential skills and work habits, ensuring that grades accurately reflect what students know and can do.

By focusing on evidence of learning rather than point accumulation, FFC8's grading practices provide students, families, and educators with a clearer picture of academic progress. This approach promotes equity, encourages continuous improvement, empowers students to take ownership of their learning, and ensures that grades are meaningful indicators of readiness for future learning.

Kindergarten through 8th-grade students can review their course grades in the Otus system, while high school students use InfiniteCampus. 

View more information on the FFC8 Evidence-Based Grading System

View the district's board policy for Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Personal Technology Devices
View the district's board policy for Student Use of Technology

In FFC8, we recognize that personal electronic devices, including cellular phones, can be valuable tools for communication and learning. However, they can also create significant distractions that interfere with teaching, learning, and positive student engagement. Research consistently shows that the presence of cell phones can reduce students' attention, increase off-task behavior, and limit opportunities for meaningful interaction with teachers and classmates.

Students are permitted to bring cell phones and other personal electronic devices to school. During instructional time, all devices must be silenced, stored, and kept out of sight unless a teacher specifically authorizes their use for an educational purpose. This expectation helps create a focused learning environment where students can fully engage in instruction without unnecessary distractions.

To protect the privacy, dignity, and safety of everyone in our schools, students may not use personal electronic devices to photograph, video-record, or audio-record another student, staff member, or visitor without that individual's knowledge and permission, except as otherwise authorized by school staff.

Students who do not follow school expectations or the district's personal electronic device policy may be subject to disciplinary consequences, including the temporary or permanent loss of the privilege of bringing a cell phone or other personal electronic device to school, as determined by school administration.