Skip To Main Content

Handbook

Handbook Essentials

Welcome

We would like to welcome you and your student to Lowell Elementary, home of the Unicorns! At Lowell Elementary it is our mission to provide an education that engages students in academics, social emotional and life skills to become active contributors to the world around them. We use a variety of strategies and resources to meet the diverse needs of our students. We welcome family involvement and look forward to working with you and your child to give them the best possible education experience.

Bell Schedule, Arrival & Dismissal

  • Office Hours - 8:25am - 3:40 pm. 
  • The office is closed from 3:40 -  4:10 pm. 
  • Student Hours - 8:25 am - 4:05 pm

Students will be allowed to enter campus no earlier than 8:25am. Breakfast will be served daily until 8:40am. Please make sure that your student is on time in order to be able to get the most out of their breakfast time. We will start dismissing all students at 4:05pm. We have several ways students can be dropped off and picked up from school.

Due to our instructional day beginning right at 8:25, families will not be allowed to walk their students to the classrooms. Students head straight to the classroom for breakfast. Students arriving after 8:40am are considered tardy and will need to sign in at the front office to get a tardy pass before going to the classroom. A parent or guardian must come in with the student to sign them in if it is after 8:40am - unaccompanied students are not allowed to sign themselves into school. This procedure helps ensure the safety of all students.

Please remember that following our drop off and pick up procedures is crucial to ensuring the safety of our students, families and staff and also to ensure everyone gets dropped off and picked up as quickly as possible without any issues. Please remember that Lowell staff are trying their best to ensure safety and efficiency so please maintain respectful and kind behavior when picking up your child. Individuals who are repeatedly disrespectful, rude, aggressive, etc. with staff will be given a warning but may eventually result in a ban from campus.

The front and back parking lots are closed to families during pick up and drop off (approximately 8:15am - 8:45am and 3:45 - 4:15pm.) Students should NOT be dropped off from the street on Sunshine Terrace! 

Car Drop Off and Pick Up – Cars may enter on Ash. During drop off students should not exit the cars until duty staff have arrived at 8:25am. Students will walk up the ramp into campus and to their classroom. Families must stay in the car. During pick up, students will not be dismissed to walk to a car that is not at the gate. Please remember car pick up will speed up as we go through the year. Last year we got it down to 15 minutes total. Families are not permitted to park in the small lot in the back to pick up their child. You must stay in the car lane and wait until you reach one of the gates. Families are also not allowed to walk up to the back area to pick up students. If you would like to walk up to pick your child you will need to meet them in the front of the school at the white gate. See map at end of handbook.  During both drop off and pick up cars should not drive around other cars unless directed by a duty staff. Any families who violate the car drop off and pick up procedures will not be allowed to use the car lane anymore and will be required to pick up their student at the front gate. 

Walkers – Families who don’t want to wait in the car line can also choose to park and walk up to meet their child at the front of the school. Families can meet their walker students at the white gate at the front of the school beginning at 4:05pm. To choose this option you will need to park on Sunshine Terrace past the gym (east of the front entrance). 

Bus –  Lowell staff are able to provide the basic information about pick up and drop off locations for bus riders, however, we are not able to address transportation concerns directly. To report concerns with bus transportation please contact the APS transportation office: (505) 880-3989 or at transcom@aps.edu. 

Other reminders about pick up/drop off: 

  • Gates will not open until 8:25am. We do not have supervision for students until 8:25.
  • If your student arrives after 8:40am they are marked as tardy. Breakfast is between 8:25am - 8:40am
  • Students should be picked up by 4:10pm
  • Students will not be checked out after 3:40pm (the office will be locked from 3:40pm - 4:10pm)
  • The front parking lot is not available for families during drop off and pick up.
  • Drop off and pick up times are not times to chat with your student’s teacher about concerns or progress. For the safety of students, teachers need to be monitoring students and ensuring that all students are accounted for and that they arrive/dismiss safely. Teachers having a  discussion with another adult can distract the teacher. We are always happy to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress and/or any concerns or questions, but you must make an appointment. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this rule.

Last year, community centers accepted registrations for after school programs and they provided transportation from school to the community center in the afternoon. We are unsure if this service will be available this year due to the remodeling of Loma Linda. Thomas Bell and Dennis Chavez community centers were open last school year and we are hoping they will be available this year as well. Ask our clerk for more information on community centers or visit cabq.gov to find more information and to register. 

Families who are repeatedly late will be reminded of the rules to pick up students on time but if late pick up continues, other necessary actions will be taken to ensure that the student is picked up on time including contacting APS police or other support services.

School Rules

Meals and Snacks

Lowell Elementary provides free breakfast, lunch, and snacks to all students. If your child prefers not to eat the provided meals or snacks, they are welcome to bring food from home. However, please note that we encourage healthy options and do not allow items such as soda, chips, candy, or other sugary snacks. Acceptable alternatives include fruit, vegetables, crackers, bagels, granola bars, and similar items packed in a lunchbox.

These guidelines are in place to promote student health and ensure a safe, supportive learning environment for all.

Additionally, food deliveries from services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or other third-party vendors will not be accepted for students. These deliveries disrupt office operations and place an added burden on our front office staff during already busy lunch hours. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a smooth and efficient school day.

Finally, to ensure safety, efficiency, and fairness during lunch periods, school staff are not able to heat up food for students. With limited time and staff available during lunch, it is not feasible to accommodate individual heating requests without disrupting supervision and lunchroom operations. Additionally, the use of microwaves raises safety concerns, including the risk of burns and inconsistent heating. Families should send food that does not require heating or to use insulated containers to keep meals warm. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient lunch environment for all students.

Toys, Electronics and Other Items

To maintain a focused and productive learning environment, students should not bring toys, trading cards, electronics, or other personal items to school. These items can be distracting in the classroom and are at risk of being lost, stolen, or damaged.

Please help us by ensuring your child leaves these items at home. If a personal item is brought without permission and becomes lost or damaged, Lowell Elementary is not responsible for the item. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this guideline with your child.

Visitors on Campus 

Anytime families are on campus including pick up, drop off, conferences, family events, etc. they are expected to maintain respectful, safe behavior. We have several family events that will occur on campus throughout the year. Some of those events will take place during the school day while some will be after school. When on campus for any event, family members are considered visitors and must adhere to APS visitor policies and procedural directives. 

APS Procedural directive regarding visitors states, “A visitor is a guest to a school. For purposes of this procedural directive, “visitor” means an unsalaried person who attends district sponsored event or activity or visits a district site for a short time.  Upon arrival on a school campus, any individual, including a student from another school, must report to the school office and/or the principal, sign in, and state the reason for the visit.  If the visit occurs after the instructional day, visitors may not be required to sign-out. All visitors are subject to the policies and procedural directives of Albuquerque Public Schools.

An individual failing to comply with any of these procedures and/or causing a disruption of the educational process may be barred or removed from the campus at the principal's discretion. The individual also may be charged with criminal trespassing. The APS School Police may provide additional information and assistance.”

Per APS Policy, “Family members and community partners are encouraged to visit the schools throughout the school year.

Conferences between visitors and employees shall not interrupt the educational process or interfere with employee assigned duties.

All visitors shall sign-in at the administrative office of the school. Visitors shall verify their identity and the purpose for their visit. All visitors shall be required to wear identification of their visitor status while at the school.  Visitors are guests to school sites and may not have unsupervised access to students.

A school administrator, or his/her designee, shall have the authority to reasonably deny a visitor access to a building or classroom if that denial is in the best interest of the school, staff or student.”

Volunteers

We welcome volunteers at Lowell Elementary! All individuals wishing to volunteer at Lowell are required to receive a background check through APS. The background check information and the application can be found online at the APS website. Once cleared to volunteer, the classroom teacher and the volunteer will work together to come to an agreed upon schedule for volunteering. Volunteers must comply with all campus and district rules and regulations. Any volunteers who violate any campus or district rules and regulations will be subject to removal from volunteer privileges. 

Lowell Elementary has small amounts of funds to pay for volunteer background checks for families. Background check applications paid for by the school will only take place on Thursdays between the hours of 9:00am - 11:00am. Applicants should expect to stay at least 30 minutes. The application process will be completed at the school with the secretary and/or community school coordinator. Applicants need to bring their driver’s license. Anyone planning to volunteer should get their background check as soon as possible as it can take up to 8 weeks. The school will need proof of approval or denial following the completion of the background check to finalize payment. Background checks are good for 2 years. School paid background checks will only be offered between the first day of school and the last school day in September. After September 29, those who wish to volunteer will need to pay for the background check. 

Observations

Lowell Elementary values open communication and collaboration with families. If a family member with educational rights would like to observe a classroom, the following guidelines must be followed to ensure minimal disruption to instruction and a respectful learning environment for all students:

  • Scheduling: Observations must be scheduled in advance at a time mutually agreed upon by the administrator, teacher, and family member.
  • Duration: Observations are limited to a maximum of 20 minutes.
  • Observers: Only one observer is permitted at a time.
  • Non-Interference: Observers may not interact with or disrupt any students, including their own child, during the observation.
  • Post-Observation Conference: A debrief meeting with the administrator, teacher, and observer will follow the observation to review what was observed and address any questions, concerns, or next steps.

Thank you for partnering with us to support a focused and respectful learning environment.

Meetings and Appointments Punctuality Policy

At Lowell Elementary, we are committed to partnering with families to support student success. To best meet student and family needs, we regularly schedule meetings to discuss student progress, plan assessments, and review supports and resources. These meetings often involve multiple staff members and require careful coordination and planning.

To ensure that we respect everyone’s time and maintain our full schedule of services, we kindly ask that families arrive on time for scheduled meetings. If a family member arrives more than 10 minutes late, the meeting will need to be rescheduled for a later date. This is necessary to avoid disruption to other scheduled meetings and to ensure that all team members can be present for the full conversation.

We understand that unexpected events can arise, and we will work with you to reschedule as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding and partnership in supporting our students.

Scheduling a Meeting with School Staff and Administrator

At Lowell Elementary, we value open communication and are always happy to meet with families to address questions or concerns. However, with a school of over 240 students, the Principal and other staff members often have full schedules with pre-planned meetings throughout the day. As a result, walk-in meetings are usually not possible.

To ensure your concern is addressed in a timely and thoughtful manner, we kindly ask that you contact or visit the front office to schedule a meeting through our school clerk. We will make every effort to schedule the meeting as soon as possible—ideally within 24 hours.

If a phone call is preferred instead of a meeting, please leave a message with the front office, and we will do our best to return your call within 24–48 hours. We appreciate your understanding and partnership.

Dress Code

Along with the APS procedural directive for dress code, the Lowell implements the following guidelines for dress code specific to our school:

  • Full length shirts that can tuck in (no strapless shirts)
  • Pants secured around the waist
  • Rips in jeans should not expose anything above mid-thigh
  • Shorts, skirts, and dresses should be mid-thigh length or longer
  • Shoes should not have wheels
  • No translucent, sheer, or transparent clothing

On days when students attend PE, please be sure they wear tennis shoes or shoes that are appropriate for running. 

Attendance

Lowell Elementary follows the attendance policies of APS. You can find these policies listed on the APS website. Please remember that the attendance phone calls you receive for absences are a district system and Lowell staff are not able to turn off the calls or change them in any way. If you receive one of these calls it is because your child has reached an absence rate that is considered high. Research shows that students who attend school frequently and are not absent often make more growth than students who miss more school. Please reach out to school staff if you have questions about attendance. We are here to support you.

Behavior

At Lowell Elementary, we follow the guidelines in the APS Student Success Handbook. Please carefully review all parts of the handbook to ensure you have all the information about rules, consequences and expectations. We work hard to teach students expected behaviors and ways to appropriately deal with conflict, emotions and other situations. Daily social emotional learning is incorporated in our schedule to support students in learning respect, responsibility, kindness, empathy, and self regulation. We will work closely with families to communicate any behaviors and work with families to find possible solutions. Our goal is for students to have a safe and happy learning environment. If you have any questions you can reach out to our front office at any time. 

Health

We follow the state and district rules regarding immunizations and medications at school. You can find more information on the APS Website about student health requirements. Our health office is also here to assist you. Please communicate any medical information with the health office as soon as possible. To reach the heath office dial 505-764-2011 x21908.

Other Information

We have a variety of ways we communicate with families about upcoming events, student progress, attendance, behaviors and other important information. We utilize:

  • Class Dojo (please be sure to sign up for our school page as well as your classroom teacher’s page)
  • Email
  • Letters and Event notices sent home in backpacks
  • Phone
  • In person meetings 
  • School newsletters

Families are encouraged to communicate with their classroom teacher regularly and to reach out to their classroom teacher first with any concerns. If you feel your issue is not addressed after contacting the classroom teacher, you can reach out to the office for additional support. 

Our goal is to have 100% of families attend parent/teacher conferences. We believe that conferences between school staff and parents/guardians are critical in ensuring a positive, successful school experience. 

Safety, security and the well being of our students, families and staff is a priority at Lowell Elementary. Please understand that the rules and procedures reviewed in this handbook are set up to maximize the safety for all and ensure that we are able to provide an uninterrupted, healthy, happy learning environment. If you have questions about a specific rule or procedure please let us know. 

Cell Phone or Other Personal Technology Use

Lowell Elementary follows the APS Procedural Directive for Student Acceptable Use of Technology. Families can read the policy in full on the APS website. A few key points most relevant for Lowell families to know include the following: 

  • The student who possesses a personal electronic device shall be solely responsible for its care.
  • These devices hall be kept out of sight and powered off or silenced during the school day and during any school-sponsored activity, meeting or practice held on Albuquerque Public Schools property. The requirement that personal electronic devices be turned off may not apply in the following circumstances when the student obtains prior approval from the principal or his/her designee:
  • The student or a family member has a special medical circumstance.
  • The student is using the device for an educational or instructional purpose with the teacher’s permission and supervision. 
  • The device is used as assistive technology required by a student’s IEP or current 504 plan. 
  • Student use of personal electronic devices shall be prohibited in areas including, but not limited to, locker rooms, classrooms, bathrooms, and swimming pool areas.
  • Students shall not use personal electronic devices on school property or at a school-sponsored activity to access and/or view internet websites that are otherwise blocked to students at school. Blocked sites include, but are not limited to, social networking sites.
  • Student use of personal electronic devices that disrupt the instructional day may result in disciplinary action and/or confiscation of the personal electronic device. When a personal electronic device is confiscated, it shall only be released and/or returned to the student’s parent/legal guardian. It is the student’s parent/legal guardian’s responsibility to retrieve the device according to school procedures. 
  • District staff may confiscate personal electronic devices when such devices are being used in violation of this procedural directive and/or internal school procedure. Upon confiscation, district staff shall follow all district and school procedural directives and processes

For Lowell Elementary, these guidelines also extend to smart watches. Students should not wear smart watches to school. Smart watches can be highly distracting during instruction and can interfere with learning, communication expectations, and safety protocols. Many models allow messaging, photography, internet access, and gaming, which can disrupt the classroom environment, compromise student privacy, and make it difficult for teachers to ensure appropriate use.

For these reasons, students are expected to leave smart watches at home. If a student brings one to school, it should remain off and stored in their backpack during the school day.

If a device is confiscated due to a violation, parents or guardians will be notified by the school and will be given specific details on when and how to retrieve the device. If the student violates the cell phone policy more than 3 times, a plan will be created with the school team for future storage of the students’ device during school hours which may include the student checking the device in and out of the office. 

APS Handbook Link