Welcome Letter to ASI Families

Dear Alta Sierra Intermediate School Parents and Guardians,

On behalf of my entire faculty and staff, welcome to Alta Sierra Intermediate School! We are excited to begin a new school year with you and look forward to building a strong partnership to support your student’s success.

Throughout August and September, you will receive weekly Parent Updates with important school news and reminders. Beginning in October, these will shift to a monthly newsletter. We encourage you to review these updates with your student so your family can stay connected to everything happening at ASI.

Thank you for sharing your child with us—we’re looking forward to a wonderful year of growth, learning, and community together.

Warm regards,
Jennifer Carter
Principal, Alta Sierra Intermediate

1. Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.

2. Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.

3. Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.

4. Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.

5. Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Who to contact if your child doesn't want to come to school: Mrs. Mennucci & Mrs. Tenney: Counselors

Parent communication is sent through ParentSquare. Student communication is sent through StudentSquare, which students can access through Clever on their Chromebooks.

You will receive notifications via text or email. Please check your ParentSquare settings to ensure your phone number and email address are correct so you can receive all communication from Alta Sierra.

Messages from teachers, clubs, athletics, and co-curricular programs are also sent through ParentSquare/StudentSquare. You may download the ParentSquare app or check your notifications via email or text.

Senders are able to see whether you have received and viewed the information that was sent.

Important: If you ever send an email and do not receive a response within 48 hours, please email or call me directly. It is possible your email was delivered to our spam folder. Once we locate it, we can whitelist it for future deliveries.

Traffic is always busy during the first few weeks of school. With approximately 4,600 students attending the three schools in the Buchanan Educational Complex, many parents and student drivers arrive at the same time. Please plan ahead and follow these guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

Morning Drop-Off

• Recommended Drop-Off Time: 8:05 a.m.

• Earliest Arrival: 8:00 a.m. (unless enrolled in Zero Period PE or Percussion)

• Please do not drop off students before 8:00 a.m., as there is no supervision prior to this time.

• Free breakfast is available before school or at break—this can help save you time in the morning.

Primary Drop-Off Location

• Use the parking lot next to the basketball courts on Peach Avenue.

• When exiting this lot, right turns only are allowed for safety.

If you prefer not to turn right, alternate drop-off locations include:

• Peach Ave. (east side)

• Peach Ave. (west side) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Peach Ave. (north of Teague Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Teague Ave. (west of Peach Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

Do NOT Drop Off Students In These Areas:

• Bus loading zone on Teague Ave. in front of the school

• Teague Ave. parking lot in the front of the school

Afternoon Dismissal & Pick-Up

• Students should go directly home after school unless they are attending athletic practice.

• There are no after-school labs during the first week of school.

Primary Pick-Up Location

• Use the parking lot next to the basketball courts on Peach Avenue.

• When exiting this lot, right turns only are allowed for safety.

Alternate pick-up locations:

• Peach Ave. (east side)

• Peach Ave. (west side) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Peach Ave. (north of Teague Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Teague Ave. (west of Peach Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

Do NOT Pick Up Students In These Areas:

• Bus loading zone on Teague Ave. in front of the school

• Teague Ave. parking lot in the front of the school

Tip: To avoid congestion, consider waiting about 10 minutes after dismissal before picking up your student. Traffic clears quickly.

Bus Information

• Morning Arrival: Buses arrive between 8:10–8:20 a.m.

• Afternoon Departure: Buses depart between 3:20–3:25 p.m.

• The bus loading zone is on Teague Avenue in front of Alta Sierra, extending from the main office to the Energy Academy at Buchanan High.

• Please do not park in this zone—signs will be posted to mark it clearly.

Please check daily to ensure your student is in dress code. Dress code checks will be conducted every day starting Week 1, and progressive consequences will be applied for non-compliance. All warnings will be documented from the first week onward.

Shorts

• Shorts must have a minimum 5-inch inseam AND a straight hem that is even all the way around each leg—front, sides, and back.

• To visualize: 5 inches is about the length of a dollar bill and falls around mid-thigh.

• Athletic-style shorts (e.g., Lululemon, Nike running shorts, etc.) that are curved, shorter on the sides, or do not meet both the inseam and straight-hem requirements are not allowed.

• Undergarments must not be visible.

Jeans

• Minor fraying and small holes are allowed.

• Shredded jeans with excessive holes are not permitted. Skin must not show through holes above mid-thigh.

• Beach/pool slides (e.g., Adidas or Nike slides) are not permitted. Tennis shoes are required for PE.

Tops

• Crop tops or bare midriffs are not allowed.

• Tank tops must have a minimum 2-inch shoulder strap. Undergarments must not be visible

• Pajama bottoms and slippers are not allowed.

• Hair color must be a natural color.

For the most current information, please refer to the Clovis Unified Dress Code on the district website.

Alta Sierra Intermediate School is implementing a Limited Cell Phone Policy for all 7th and 8th grade students, effective the 2025-2026 school year. This policy supports student learning, safety, and social-emotional wellness by minimizing distractions and encouraging positive social interaction.

Key Policy Requirements

• Students may actively use cell phones before and after school.
• Students must turn cell phones off or silent prior to entering their 1st daily class. (bell to bell)
• Phones must be stored in backpacks at all times during the school day in the classroom including passing periods.
• Limited cell phone use is allowed during break and lunch. Students may check their phones briefly and then put them back into their backpacks. Filming and photography are prohibited.
• Students may use cell phones after school to contact parents or guardians.
• If a student needs to make a phone call during the day, it may be done in any office under staff supervision.
• In emergencies, parents should contact the school’s main office to reach their student.

Usage Restrictions

• Cell phones are prohibited in restrooms, locker rooms, or other private areas.
• Listening to music or using earbuds, headphones, portable speakers, or other audio devices is not allowed. (bell to bell.)
• Audio or visual recordings with phones are allowed only under staff direction.
• Posting on social media using phones during school hours is not permitted unless directed by staff.

Teacher Discretion

• Teachers may allow the educational use of electronic devices, including cell phones, during class time as appropriate.

Violations and Consequences

• Devices used in violation will be confiscated and turned into Student Services.
• Confiscated devices may only be retrieved by a parent or guardian.
• Progressive disciplinary measures will also be enforced for cell phone violations.

Why a Limited Phone-Free Environment?

Research shows that phone-free policies positively impact students by:

• Improving focus, participation, and academic performance (test scores increased 6.4% in schools banning phones — EPPC, 2024).
• Reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and lowering social pressures (Digital Wellness Lab, 2024).
• Encouraging stronger peer relationships through real conversations.
• Decreasing classroom distractions and incidents of cyberbullying.

Additional Notes

• The school/district is not responsible for lost or stolen devices and will not investigate such cases.
• Students wishing to contact parents during instructional time may use their cell phone or a school phone with staff permission, under staff supervision.
• Emergency calls home may be permitted under staff supervision

All students are eligible to receive lunch and one additional meal before school or at break each day at no charge. We recommend eating before school, as there is more time to get served.

Lunch lines tend to be long during the first few weeks of school, but all students have enough time to eat. At the secondary level, students walk themselves to the lunch lines.

We have:

• 2 lines inside the MPR

• 4 to 5 lines at the outside windows

Students can also choose to wait until the lines shorten before getting in line to ensure they have enough time.

With no-cost meals for all students, no student will ever go hungry during the school day unless they choose not to eat. Please note that at the secondary level, students are not required to eat lunch.

Food & Lunch Deliveries

Alta Sierra Intermediate School does not accept deliveries from food delivery services such as Grubhub, Postmates, DoorDash, Jimmy John’s, or similar vendors. This policy also applies to other deliveries such as balloons, flowers, or gifts.

However, we will never deny a parent access to their child. If you wish to bring lunch for your student:

• Check in at the front office between 12:35 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. with a valid photo ID.

• Our staff will verify your identity through the Raptor system.

• Once cleared, you may personally hand your student the lunch you provide.

Important Notes:

• Parents may provide lunch only for their own student, not for friends or other students.

• For safety and supervision, parents must come into the office—students may not meet parents in the parking lot or at the street to receive items.

Forgotten Item Drop-Offs

Forgotten items—such as towels, athletic gear, textbooks, PE clothes, or shoes—should also be dropped off in the main office.

• We do not deliver items to classrooms or maintain a drop-off table.

• If you bring an item, we are happy to call your student out of class so they can pick it up from you directly.

At Alta Sierra, we value the development of responsibility and independence. Experiencing the natural consequences of forgetting an item helps students grow in organization, problem-solving, and accountability. We encourage families to allow students to manage their own responsibilities—even if that occasionally means going without a forgotten item.

PE Clothes & Locks:

• Available for purchase in PE classes during the first week of school.

• Checks should be made payable to Clovis Unified School District.

Zero Period PE

• Begins Day 1
• Students report directly to the gym at 7:25 a.m.

Lunch Period PE

• Begins Day 1.
• Students report straight to PE at 12:35 p.m.
• After PE, students will have the last 10 minutes of lunch to eat.

Sign Ups will be sent out separately this upcoming Thursday.

Requirements to participate: A completed homecampus.com account including a current sport physical.

• Football Begins: Monday, August 11th @ 3:30pm on the football field.
• Girls Volleyball Tryouts Begin: Monday, August 18th @ 3:30pm in the Gym.
• All other fall Sports Begin: Monday, August 25th @ 3:30pm. (Boys and Girls Water Polo & Cross Country, Girls Golf & Tennis)