About Academy of Detroit – West, Redford

We are pleased that you have decided to join us for the 2007-2008 school year.

The following is information that you may find helpful as we proceed through the year.

School Hours: 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

Students are tardy after 8:40 am.

Attendance Policy

Regular and timely attendance is expected for all students. Five tardy arrivals in a class are treated as one absence. Parents must send letters of explanation when students return after absence. Any student absent more than five days will be reported to the truancy office. Any student absent 20 days during the school year will be required to repeat the school year.

Standards

Students are expected to behave properly and to perform at all tasks required in the classroom to the best of their ability. Assemblies will be held during the opening week to confirm this standard with students. A student may be suspended for 1, 2, or 3 days for misbehavior. After the 3rd suspension, students may be asked to leave the Academy.

MAT 8 / Scantron Testing

Screening and placement tests will be administered at least twice a year. The fall testing schedule for the 2008-2009 school year will be announced.

MEAP Testing:

Please watch the calendars and information regarding your child's testing schedule. Our school has made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) on the MEAP test three years in a row. Thank you for your support!

Latchkey Tutoring

This after school service is currently full.  Please contact Mrs. Walker for more information regarding Latchkey Tutoring, and to place your student on a waiting list.

Dress Code

Everyone must be in COMPLETE uniform by the first day of school. Parents will be called to bring uniform or to take the student home. This policy will be strictly enforced.

• For boys, NO braid, dreadlocks, or twists.
• Afros may be no longer than TWO inches.
• School administrators have the right to determine the suitability of any hairstyle based on the goals and objectives of the school.
• Boys may not wear earrings. Girls may wear no more than one pair of earrings at a time. No body piercing of any kind is permitted.
• Boys and girls in grades 4-6 must wear dress shirts only. Polo style shirts are permitted for boys and girls in K-3rd only.
• Brown or black dress shoes. NO GYM SHOES OF ANY COLOR.
• Gym attire, including gym shoes, may be worn in gym class only.
• Ties are mandatory for boys and girls in sixth grade.
• Boys must wear brown or black belts.
• Cardigan sweaters must be black or brown.
• Uniform pants for girls may be worn starting November 1st - March 31st.

After School Tutoring

Tutoring will begin in mid October. Students will be selected based on the pre-assessment scores and classroom teacher referral. There is NO COST for this service. Please see Mrs. Walker with any questions. Tutoring sessions are currently full.

Library

We have purchased portable carts for each grade level that are full of dictionaries, encyclopedias, fiction, and nonfiction books to inspire our students to read. However, this effort does not replace a library. Please take your child to the public library. Every child at our school is expected to possess their own library card and use it frequently.

Entrance and Dismissal

Please follow the Scoop on the Loop handout that you received at registration. Students and parents will enter at the MAIN entrance ONLY. One line for the entire school is formed to dismiss from the rear door ONLY. Pick up is in the rear parking lot. In case of inclement weather, the students will be released from inside the building. Please pull up to the back door and we will get your child for you. Remember: WE ARE ALL HERE FOR THE CHILDREN. PLEASE BE PATIENT. WE MUST MAKE DISMISSAL AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE FOR ALL STUDENTS. YOU WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE SPEEDING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT WHEN YOUR CHILD IS PRESENT. THANK YOU!

Early Pick-Up

Please call the school if you are going to pick up your child from school early. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP STUDENTS BETWEEN 2:45 AND 3:05. IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS BEING GIVEN TO YOUR CHILD AT THAT TIME. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS. All parents must report to the school office before going tot he classroom. Parents are encouraged to remain in the Parent Corner area and NOT in the classrooms.

Volunteers / Parent Corner

The Parent Corner is located at the front entrance. There, you will find benches and information about what is currently happening at our school. Volunteers may sign up in the office. PLEASE DO NOT GO INTO THE CLASSROOMS WITHOUT FIRST SIGNING IN. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO IS IN THE BUILDING AT ALL TIMES.

Safety / Security

All procedures are implemented for the safety, security, and academic enrichment of our students. Your cooperation with these policies is greatly appreciated. Feel free to make suggestions on how we can improve services for our students. Thank you in advance.

Gym

There is no gymnasium on our campus. Students are transported by bus every other Tuesday to the Covenant School at the corner of Telegraph and Plymouth roads. Gym classes will begin after MEAP testing is over. Please look for forthcoming information and permission slips regarding this matter.

Basketball / Cheerleading / Extra-Curricular Requirements

In order to qualify for basketball, cheerleading, or other extra-curricular activities, every student MUST have all of the following:

• maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA
• recommendation by two teachers
• recommendation by administration

School Wide Grading Scale

A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F Below 60%

Homework

Consistent homework is assigned Monday through Thursday each week. Please ask for and assist your child with the homework. For the beginning of the year, the homework will be MEAP related with helps our students prepare for a successful test taking experience.

Highlights

1. Parents, please prepare to participate in the Academy of Detroit - West Parent Club, which meets every other Tuesday of each month. Further notices of these and other pertinent announcements will be forthcoming as needed.
2. All state and public schools are mandated, for the first time in a long while, to begin classes on the first Tuesday after Labor Day, which is September 4, 2007.
3. Please note our emphasis on good study habits and excellent Test Taking Skills. The highest scores accumulated on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), an entrance requirement to college, also determine the amount of college scholarship funds that are offered to potential college students. Please read and discuss the attached article as a reference. Students may begin taking the SAT for practice in the 7th grade by accessing SAT.com on the website.
4. Mrs. Fahoome is the Attendance Secretary.
5. Furthermore, we thank you for selecting the Academy of Detroit - West (Redford Campus), Grades 2-6 as your child's (children's) school. Please remember our 6 Mile Campus, which services K-1 with the same high expectations. Telephone (313) 272-5473.