This page provides links to forms, student and parent handbooks, our grievance process, and other policy manuals.

School Day

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures

The safety of our students is very important. Summit South works with local law enforcement and district safety personnel to develop procedures that keep our students safe. Please adhere to our policies for the safety of your children.

• When you are dropping off your student(s), pull up to the curb and let them out; do not leave your car parked in the driveline in order to run in, even if it is for a brief minute. If you need to go into the building, please park in a parking space.

• Students may not enter the building before 8:00 in the morning.

• Afternoon pick-up will be accomplished by a driveline procedure: 

  • When you arrive in the line, please display your pick-up sign. 6th-period teachers for students in your family or carpool are notified to send your students out to your car. 

  • Older siblings should pick up K and 1st grade siblings to accompany them to your car. 

  • If you need to come into the building please park in a designated parking spot.

  • Please do not contact your student and ask them to leave class before they are called by the driveline staff. Teachers are unable to release students from class until they are called.

Visitors

Parents are welcome to visit Summit South. However, we have several restrictions in place to ensure the safety of all students.

• All visitors, including parent volunteers, must enter and exit through the side door in Littleton, and the front doors in Conifer, which will be locked throughout the day. 

• All visitors must check in at the main office and wear a visitor badge throughout their stay. Please check out and return your badge upon leaving.

• If you need to drop off an item to a student, please leave it at the main desk and we will promptly get the item to the student.

• All doors are monitored by staff. Please do not let anyone into the building. Let the staff oversee the entrance of others.

• If you would like to arrange to visit one or more classes during the school day, please email Allycia Taussig (ataussig@jeffcoschools.us) and the teacher you would like to observe.

Guests

Students are not allowed to bring guests to Summit South for practical, liability, and safety reasons.

Guests at Extracurricular Events

Some SAS social events are intended to promote a sense of community for Summit South students. Therefore, there may be events that only Summit South students may attend. Other events may be opened to SAS students and their guests. If events are opened to guests, SAS students are fully responsible for making sure their guests follow the rules for the event and conduct themselves according to SAS standards.

Cell Phone and Electronic Device Use

This policy is in place to promote the educational use of technology while keeping the integrity of the classroom instruction intact and to promote face-to-face time with student peers. If a phone or other electronic device is confiscated, parents may pick them up at the end of the day. If a student needs to contact an adult, they may ask permission to use their phone or the school’s phone from administrative staff in the front area.

Specific policies are as follows:

• Personal use of cell phones and electronic devices by students is prohibited. 

• Personal computer use during classes must be pre-approved by the teacher.

• No music in classes unless approved by the teacher.

• No headphones, earbuds, AirPods, or any other listening device may be used in school unless it is in class and assigned by the teacher. 

• All phones or devices brought out during classes or lunch, except by the invitation of the teacher for academic purposes, will be confiscated, turned in to the principal, and must be picked up by the parent (not the student).

• Headphones, earbuds, AirPods, or any other listening device must be stored in backpacks and not displayed on the student's body. 

• Inappropriate use of cell phones, tablets, or computers will result in a loss of privileges. It is a privilege to bring your electronics to school. 

Dress Code

The Summit Academy South dress code is designed to help students follow a standard that promotes a positive classroom experience. Students are welcome to dress casually but modestly in order to promote a “work-ready” environment in the classroom. Please discuss these policies with your student(s) and monitor them as they leave home each week. Students may be asked by any staff member to wear different or more clothing. In this case, students should continue to wear the required items for the rest of the school day and come dressed according to dress code the following weeks.

• Shirts may be sleeveless, but no thin straps are allowed, unless covered by a sweater or jacket. Any straps must be at least the width of 2 fingertips.

• Shorts and skirts must provide appropriate coverage, even with tights or leggings underneath. They should not have to be adjusted to meet this standard. Staff will be the final authority on “appropriate coverage.”

• No undergarments may show.

• Midriffs may not be exposed.

• Holes in garments and see-through fabric must not expose skin that would be covered using guidelines above.

• No garment may contain wording using profanity or vulgar language. It must be school appropriate.

• Hoodies may be worn, but the hood must remain “down” on-campus except at outside recess.

• Sunglasses may not be worn in the building.

• The Principal may use discretion on other items worn by students.

Halloween

A costume day may be designated at Halloween time at the Principal’s discretion. As we are a K-12 school, we have some guidelines for safety and to support our younger students. Students who choose to operate outside of these guidelines will be required to wash their faces and/or change clothing.

• No masks

• No scary or angry makeup

• No props

• Dress modestly within dress code guidelines

Weather

In-person instruction at Summit Academy South will only be canceled on days with extreme weather conditions. SAS schools are physically located in the Jeffco Public Schools district area and will follow the closings of that district. Parents should look for communication directly from SAS which will clearly communication any deviation from Jeffco Public School’s procedures.  In general, if Jeffco Schools are closed, we are closed. If open, then we are open. Even though Summit South is located in Jefferson County, we realize that our families come from many areas, and parents should use discretion regarding their local driving conditions.

To view school closings, parents should visit the Jeffco Schools website at www.jeffcopublicschools.org and look for pop-up alerts. You can also tune in to local television or radio stations that post listings for closures, or view Weather School and Business Closures, at www.9news.com/closings. Look for Jeffco Public Schools and Jefferson Academy on news listings. 

If you plan to be absent due to weather conditions, please follow regular absence-reporting procedures.

2-Hour Delay

• Used only during extreme circumstances of inclement weather. Jeffco Public Schools will typically have this delay announced via their autodialer. In the case that Summit South is on a 2-Hr delay and the rest of the district is meeting as usual, you can expect an email.

• Families will be notified by 5:30 a.m.

• School starts 2 hours later than the regular start time. The Summit South 2-Hour Delay Schedule can be found here: www.thesummitacademysouth.org/calendar.  

• School ends at the normal time.

• Tardies/absences will be excused if Summit South is notified by the family using the attendance form here: www.thesummitacademysouth.org/attendance. 

Parent/School Partnership Expectations

Communication: Contacting Us

By Email

The best way to communicate with Summit South staff is via email. Emails will be answered within 48 hours.

By Phone

Reach Summit South by phone at (720) 544-3667. Please note: Students are not allowed to receive or return phone calls, even from parents, on personal phones. If a student needs to contact a parent, they may request permission in the office area between classes, or during class only in the case of an emergency. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please email or call the SAS office (office@thesummitacademysouth.org or (720) 544-3667.

Our Website

The Summit South website is an excellent source of information. It is updated regularly at www.thesummitacademysouth.org. This handbook refers you often to the website because it is the best up-to-date source of information. Please take time to become familiar with its features.

Communication: How We Will Contact You

Family involvement is one of the core qualities that makes Summit Academy South exceptional. We will have information to communicate with families regularly throughout the year to ensure that you are informed about what is happening on campus. We will expect to communicate with you via the following modes:

Weekly e-Newsletters

Important information, reminders, opportunities, and deadlines are communicated weekly through a family e-newsletter. Please read this important communication weekly. Newsletter content can be found on the Upcoming Events Page on the Summit Academy South website here: www.thesummitacademysouth.org/ events-2. Weekly emails will be sent out on Mondays. 

Google Classroom

Schools, colleges, and workplaces increasingly rely on online platforms to communicate information and organize tasks and projects, so we want our students to be well-trained in this vital skill. Our teachers communicate with students regularly via assignments, announcements, and posts on Google Classroom. It is a very important communication piece in many classes. Many students are still learning how to communicate effectively with teachers, and parents can help them navigate this process by being aware of the communication between teachers and their students. Therefore, we expect that all parents will make it a priority to help their students (2nd grade and up) to use this tool. More information will be available on Launch Day.

Student Accounts

Students will need to sign into their Google accounts to manage assignments, view class information on Google Classroom, and communicate directly with teachers using their Gmail accounts. Parents should become familiar with Google Classroom and expect to help their students navigate their classes throughout the week, as needed. 

• Your student’s username is their Jeffco ID#. You can find this on their class schedule or on Infinite Campus (see www.thesummitacademysouth.org/login). 

• The password is assigned to the student at a login information station on Launch Day. Passwords will also be given in person to each student on the first day of school. Parents will need to ask the student to show them the password sticker they received and make a note of the password for future reference. Please see the SAS Student Password Policy below for information about how passwords can be communicated and changed.

• Parents can set up notifications as a handy alternative to regularly logging into the students’ accounts.

Parent Involvement

Parents should become familiar with Google Classroom as well. Teachers use Google Classroom as the main platform for communication about courses and assume that parents have access to help their students as needed. When parents are not familiar with and helping their students navigate Google Classroom, students will be at a disadvantage.

More Information and Training

For more information on Google Classroom, please visit: www.thesummitacademysouth.org/login. We also offer Google Classroom training at the beginning of the school year to help you become familiar with this tool.

Email

We rely heavily on email communication. It is imperative that we have an accurate email address (that is checked regularly) on file in Infinite Campus and Praxi for at least one parent.

Phone Number

In addition, it is extremely important that we are able to reach you in case of an emergency. Please provide an accurate phone number where we can reach you easily. In the case of a phone number change, please update your information in Infinite Campus and Praxi promptly. 

Praxi

Praxi is our school’s custom system. In Praxi you can register for classes, order pizza, see your account balance for fees, and check your volunteer hours. In the future, you will be able to reserve items from our lending library through Praxi and much, much more.

• Go to the Praxi Parent login page at app.praxischool.com/parent_login.php.

• Type in the School ID: 3667.

• Type in your assigned family ID. If you do not know that ID, you will need to email the SAS office (office@thesummitacademysouth.org) and we will look it up for you. 

• Enter your password. (You will set this the first time you use the site.)

We also offer Praxi training at the beginning of the school year to help you become familiar with this tool

Student Gmail

Each of our students has a school-issued Gmail address. This address follows the following format:

student ID@jeffcoschools.us. The password is assigned to the student at a login information station on Launch Day. Passwords will also be given in person to each student on the first day of school. Parents will need to ask the student to show them the password sticker they received and make a note of the password for future reference. Please see the SAS Student Password Policy below for information about how passwords can be communicated and changed.

Secondary students (grades 7-12) should check this address regularly. We send school communication about school events, such as family newsletters, to this email address. Teachers may also use this email address to communicate important class information with students. Therefore, it is important to make arrangements to check this address or forward it to an email address that you check regularly.

Forwarding

If you (or your student) do not plan to check your student’s school-issued email address regularly, please forward this account to an email address that you check regularly. Again, email is a primary means of communication. Teachers will assume that you receive the communication they send, and your students may miss out on opportunities and learning if you do not receive the information they send.

SAS Student Password Policy: Phone and Email Reset Restrictions (UPDATED! May 2024)

• Student Password Reset Limitations:  SAS staff are prohibited from resetting SAS student password requests over the phone,  through email requests, or through collaborative document requests, such as Google Suite tools. 

• In-Person Student Verification: SAS student password resets must be conducted in person, with the student present, at valid school functions or school locations by SAS staff. 

• Student Account Recovery Process: In the event that a student is unable to have their password reset in person at a school location, or at a SAS school function, students or families must use the Jeffco Student Password Reset Tools.

  • Jeffco Student Password Reset Tool: password.jeffco.k12.co.us/HIBP-Prod/

  • Jeffco How to Reset My Student Password Instruction Sheet: www.jeffcohelp.org/support/ solutions/articles/16000013099

  • Jeffco HELP Support Portal: www.jeffcohelp.org/support/home

• Training and Awareness: Regular training sessions and awareness campaigns will be conducted to educate SAS staff about the importance of password security and the procedures for student password resets.

• Policy Review: This SAS student password reset policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure its effectiveness and relevance in addressing evolving security threats and technological advancements. Updates and revisions may be made as necessary to maintain the highest standards of security and user protection.

Volunteer Commitment (UPDATED!)

Summit South depends on the help of all parents for the safety, success, and outstanding experience we are committed to providing as a community of home-educating families. Before school starts in September, we will send out a Sign-Up Genius where you can pick the times and jobs that best fit your family’s needs. Families are requested to do 10 hours of volunteering. We also appreciate any extra volunteer work you are willing to do. Without the support of our parent volunteers we are unable to provide the best choices for students, such as the freedom to choose their lunch environment.

Please view the following document for details on each position: SAS Volunteer Job Descriptions. 

How to fulfill your Volunteer Commitment

1. Check out the list of available jobs. 

2. Sign up via the Sign-up Genius, sent via email.

3. Report for duty on the day you chose and for the job you chose.

4. Use Praxi Parent portal to log hours worked.  Julie Jordening can help you learn how to do this. You will only receive credit for hours if you log them in Praxi after working a shift. 

5. Praxi Parent will reflect hours worked after they are logged in by you and approved by the administration.

Volunteers must abide by the following policies:

• Maintain student confidentiality and agree not to disclose any information that you may have access to as a result of a volunteer assignment. Volunteers must not post student information or pictures on social media sites.

• Follow the policies and procedures of Jeffco Public Schools. Jeffco Public Schools has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion of all students. All volunteers must uphold those policies and values while volunteering. Parents will not share personal or political views with students while volunteering. Teachers or administrative staff can answer any questions regarding appropriate information to share with students.

• Contact a teacher or staff member about any concerns regarding the welfare of any student.

• Be respectful of the classroom by not disrupting a teacher’s instructional time or student learning.

• Conduct yourself in a professional, kind and respectful manner at all times. Volunteers are role models for students, and must conduct themselves accordingly.

• Positively motivate students to work and help them succeed in school to the best of your ability.

• Acknowledge the teacher as the authority in the classroom. Volunteers must not confront a teacher regarding disagreements or differences of opinion in the presence of students. 

• Be on time and reliable in fulfilling volunteer commitments for the times you sign up to volunteer. Call the school at (720) 544-3667 24-hours in advance if you are unable to fulfill your commitment.

• Schedule all volunteer hours through the Sign-up Genius and log them in Praxi to get credit for your shift. 

• Sign in and out at the check-in computer. You will need to wear a visitor badge and carry a radio (if assigned) at all times while volunteering for the school so that staff and students can recognize you as a source of help. This is a matter of safety for our students. 

• Other children who may accompany you to the school must be supervised by you at all times.