Hamilton Middle School Policies

School Hours

School starts at 9:05 and we dismiss at 4:05. We do not have supervision available for your child prior to 8:45. DO NOT drop your child off prior to that time.
Please DO NOT make U Turns when dropping/picking up students. Our safety guards will be giving out tickets. 
The front of the school is reserved for emergencies, visitors to the front office, and buses/transportation only.
Please adhere to the school speed limit and drive SlOWLY during drop-off/pick-up.
We ask that you insist your child USE THE CROSSWALK or CROSSING GUARDS instead of darting between parked cars and traffic when crossing the street. 
PARENTS OF 6TH GRADERS ONLY MAY PICK UP ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF HOLM ELEMENTARY. 

Arrival/Dismissal
ArrivalDismissal 
Bus
Come in through the front doors to go to the back…or to breakfast.
Car
Enter through the back gate to go to the back…or to breakfast.
Walker/RTD         
Enter through the back gate to go to the back…or to breakfast
Bus
Exit through the front doors to go to the bus…6th graders go through the south doors by Room 110.
Car
Exit through the back doors to meet your ride…6th graders go through the south doors by Room 111.
Walker/RTD
Exit through the back doors to meet your ride…6th graders go through the south doors by Room 111.

BREAKFAST WILL BE SERVED IN CAFETERIA8:20 AM-8:45 AM

Schedule Change Request

At Hamilton, our educators facilitate learning experiences for each student to excel personally, academically, and socially. Schedules are provided to students in the morning of their first day of school. During the first two weeks of school, school leaders reserve the right to change a student’s schedule. Due to the complexity of our class placement process, we do not honor specific requests for a classroom teacher. Schedule changes may NOT be made after four weeks into either semester.

Dress Code Policy

Attire must not disrupt the school’s learning environment. It must meet reasonable standards of cleanliness and show respect for others. Denver Public School Policy JICA- Student Dress establishes guidelines for and defines appropriate dress. Please see below for Hamilton’s additional dress code policies, which will be enforced on campus, in the building, and at school sponsored activities. In short, clothing should cover the body from shoulder to mid-thigh including the chest, back, midriff, and buttocks. Clothing should cover undergarments. Attire for religious or health reasons is permitted.

The school administration shall have the right to evaluate any clothing to determine its acceptability within the guidelines of the dress code. Administrators shall also have the right to make an interpretation on the decency and appropriateness of any garment. Administrators, teachers, and other certified personnel are responsible for enforcing the dress code. Possible exceptions for special days will be at the discretion of the administration.

The following items are not acceptable on school grounds, in school district vehicles, or at school functions or activities:  

  • Oversized or “sagging” pants, where undergarments or gym/athletic shorts are visible. Belts are to be worn, if necessary, to keep pants at the low waist or higher. 
  • Hooded shirts or sweatshirts (“hoodies”) are not to be worn on the head inside of the building
  • Shorts or jeans with tears
  • Spaghetti strap tops without a covering like a jacket or sweater      
  • House shoes/house slippers/pajamas
  • Pajama Pants
  • Blankets

The following must be kept in the student’s assigned locker:

  • Coats or jackets 
  • Fanny packs/small backpacks, purses, and backpacks 
Cell Phone Policy

HMS follows a NO CELL PHONE POLICY.

Students should not have their phones with them during the school day.  If students view their phones as an extension of their being, they may turn the phone off and keep it hidden during the school day. (Not like hidden in a Chromebook where they can still access it, but you can’t see it, but like hidden in a pocket, and kept out of their sight to avoid distraction from learning.) It is strongly recommended that students turn off and store their phone in their OWN locker during the school day. 

This policy is in effect the first day of school and if a staff member sees a student’s phone, the phone will be confiscated. 

Each time a phone is confiscated, families will be notified and staff will review this policy of not having a phone during the school day with the student. Phones will not be returned until 4:05 pm. If the Cell Phone Policy is violated a third time, the phone will be held by an administrator until a parent or guardian picks it up at school. It is strongly recommended students turn their phones off and leave their phones in their OWN lockers to avoid theft, damage, or distraction from learning. 

The school is not responsible for locating lost or stolen devices, and will not be held liable for damaged, lost, or stolen phones.

Hall Passes

Students are expected to be on time to class and remain in class until the end of the period. Students need a Hall Pass to leave the room. Students found without a pass will be expected to return to their class.

Breakfast/Lunch

Beginning August 2022, LUNCH meals will no longer be provided at no cost to all students. It is important for families to complete a free and reduced meal application each school year to determine eligibility for free or reduced meal benefits. The application is available now on www.MySchoolApps.com

  • Lunch $2.75
  • Only Milk $0.75
  • Meals will be charged based on Free, Reduced and Paid meal eligibility.

Breakfast is free for all students, and will be served from 8:20am-8:45am. To help us prepare for, and supervise a warm, welcoming experience, please fill out this survey to help us prepare for your child to arrive early for breakfast.

Technology Fee and Agreement
  • Used for Learning Daily:
    • Charge every night away from the student.
    • Bring it to school daily.
    • Families are encouraged to purchase a case.
2022-23 COVID-19 Resources for Schools

School and District Support from CDE

CDE’s top priority is the health and safety of all students, educators and communities in Colorado. The department has compiled resources below about Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) to help provide guidance to schools and districts.

Schools and districts should work directly with their local public health agency and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) for guidance on COVID-19. See also: Executive Orders and Public Health Orders.

Summary of most recent changes

Updates as of August 10, 2022

  • While this school year’s COVID-19 guidance for K-12 and child care settings has no new requirements, we have simplified it to further align with routine response to other infectious illnesses. This transition began with the last school guidance update in February of 2022.
  • Instead of a statewide, one-size-fits-all approach, schools will work directly with their local public health partners to make decisions about mitigation strategies in response to increases in cases and absenteeism that align with their local communities and conditions.
  • Masking and quarantine in K-12 settings following routine classroom exposures are only recommended as part of a mitigation strategy put in place to slow transmission when cases are increasing, outbreaks are detected, community levels are escalating, or at the discretion of the school, district, or local public health agency. Students, staff, and volunteers who test positive should isolate
  • As such, this update removes the statewide criteria for reduced quarantine following routine classroom exposures. Schools and child care facilities should continue to alert students, staff, and parents of known classroom cases, outbreaks, and exposures so all individuals are appropriately informed, will monitor closely for symptoms, and may choose to increase personal mitigation measures as necessary.
  • It remains important that all schools and child care facilities remind staff, students, and parents to stay up to date with vaccinations, stay home when sick, test when symptomatic, and isolate if they test positive for COVID-19. Under Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, Coloradans are entitled to paid time off from work for COVID-related needs. Schools and child care facilities should notify students, staff, and parents whenever they detect signs of increasing cases of infectious disease or outbreaks to ensure those individuals can make informed decisions about their own health and well-being and protect their loved ones.
  • In accordance with long-standing regulations, school and child care facilities are required to establish written policies for monitoring and addressing illnesses and absenteeism that indicate transmission among students and staff, report cases, and work with their local public health partners to address and slow the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases within their facilities.
  • Additionally, all schools and child care facilities are encouraged to continually maintain and improve the ventilation within their building using the many tools, resources, and funding now available.
Absences

Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance.

  • Report absences by calling our Attendance Line (720)423-9517
  • or any other questions, call our Main Office at (720)423-9500