School Info

School is in session (Monday-Thursday) for grades K through 5th from 8:55 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The first bell rings at 8:50 a.m. and the tardy bell rings at 8:55 a.m. On Fridays, school ends at 2:00pm. Students are allowed on campus starting at 8:25 a.m.for recess and breakfast.  Breakfast is free for all students.

In order to save parents and guardians money on school supplies, there will be a $30.00 school supply charge. This will enable teachers to buy supplies in bulk and avoid the purchase of unneeded items. Please pay the fee at the front office.

The playground is supervised every morning from 8:25 - 8:55 a.m. during the time buses are arriving and unloading. Do not send your children to school earlier than 8:25 a.m., since there is no adult supervision present on the grounds. The playground is also supervised during lunch recess and grade level recess periods.

Extended Hours is a program that runs before and after school for a fee. For registration information please contact the Extended Hours office at 241-3603 or their website. EXTENDED HOURS LINK

Visitors must check in at the office, sign in and wear a visitor sticker.

If you are interested in volunteering, please let the main office know and we can set up a time to work with our volunteer coordinator.  Our district policy includes filling out volunteer paperwork as well! We welcome you to join our awesome team of volunteers that support tutoring, clerical support, classroom helper, etc.  

A child can never make up a day missed at school even though some assignments may be made up at a later date. The interaction and instruction that takes place in the classroom are equally as valuable as written assignments. Students should only be absent from school in the case of an illness, unusual family difficulties, or emergency. Other absences should be avoided and, in fact, may constitute truancy. If your child is absent for more than one day, please make arrangements to have his/her homework picked up.

When your child is absent, the parent is expected to call the school office between 8:00 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. to inform the school as to the nature of the absence. If the child is absent and no call has been made, the school's automated system will call the parental numbers listed on the registration paperwork, to let families know about the student's absence from school. For the safety of your student, please call to let us know your child is out of school on days missed.

As a general policy, children are dismissed from school during school hours only in case of an emergency. In such situations, a note should be sent to the child's teacher on that day and the parent must come to the office to sign the child out of school. Please try to schedule appointments before or after school.

Chipeta Elementary does have a full time health assistant. She is on duty from 8:25 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. If a child becomes ill or injured at school, he/she will be cared for, and the parent will be notified. Simple first-aid will be administered, but no medication will be given unless the medication and written permission is on file with the office. The responsibility for further care rests with the parents or family physician. If your child contracts strep throat, pink eye, chickenpox, or any other contagious disease, please inform the school health assistant or office staff at once. Throat cultures are not given at school.

In order for prescription medications to be administered by the school health assistant or trained staff, the school is required to have the form "Request for Medication" completed, signed by the physician and a parent, and be on file in the school. Prescription medication must be in the original container labeled by the pharmacist. Please check with your physician regarding the necessity for giving medication during school hours.

Over the counter (non-prescription) medication supplied by the parent in the original container may be given only with a parent's signature on the permission form. Forms are available in the school office and at most physician's offices. New forms must be completed each school year.

If it is necessary to send liquid medication to school, please send a dosage spoon with the medication. We request parents bring the medication to school. Medications which have not been used or picked up by the expiration date will be discarded at school.

Chipeta is a Positive Behavior Support (PBIS) school. We strive to have a school environment that is positive, preventative, predictable, and effective. We endeavor to be safe, healthy and caring. These elements help provide an atmosphere essential for academic success.

The Chipeta Behavior Expectations require each student to be:
Respectful
Responsible
Safe

We have developed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that outline the desired behavior in each school setting as it pertains to these three school-wide expectations. It is our goal to establish and maintain an effective school environment that maximizes academic achievement and behavioral competence of all learners.

Children may ride scooters & bicycles to school. Scooters & bicycles must be walked on the school grounds. Bicycles should be locked to the bicycle rack. Roller blades may be worn to school, but are not allowed on school grounds. Students must change into their shoes at the main office or back gate before entering the school. Please remember that the school cannot be responsible for any personal property brought to school.

Bus transportation is provided to children in the Chipeta attendance area who live more than two miles from school. Where students are ineligible for school district transportation, the parent may contract privately with STA if it will not cause deviation from the existing routes. Information on specific bus number, bus stop and stop time for individual students is available at the school office or at Student Transportation of America.

It is our hope that you stress to your child the importance of proper conduct at the bus stop and on the bus. We want to be sure that every Chipeta student has a safe and happy ride to and from school.

Please read the pick-up and drop-off procedures carefully. Your cooperation is appreciated. The drop-off/pick-up loop is located in front of the school on Chipeta Avenue between 9th and 10th Street. Vehicles in the "pick-up/drop-off loop should continue to pull forward filling spaces vacated in front of them. Drivers are to remain in their vehicles. Do not park on 10th and Chipeta Avenue in the bike lane.

Other Guidelines

• Students who ride the bus will be organized in the downstairs hallway before being escorted to the bus by an adult. 

• If you are picking your student up by car, please pull up as far up as possible in our front loop and wait in your car. Your student will come to your car. Kindergarten parents/guardians MUST park outside of the front loop and pick up their kindergartner at the front kindergarten gate. 

• If you are a parent that walks onto campus to pick up your student, please go to the west parking lot/gate. Once your student sees you, they will come to you and be supervised by a staff member.

• Kindergarten parents/guardians are allowed to go to the front kindergarten gate to pick up their kindergartener.

We ask that while adults are waiting outside for pick up.

In an effort to assist you and your child with important information and school news we have established "Tuesday Folders". Each Tuesday your child will bring home a packet of letters, classroom information, etc. Please take time to sit and discuss this information with your child. In addition, a monthly newsletter will be sent out regarding important school news and upcoming events in the next month.

The Chipeta staff is committed to communication between students, teachers, and parents. Pupil progress is reported through formal parent-teacher conferences twice a year and progress report cards are sent home during the year. Fall parent conferences are scheduled in October and winter conferences will be held in February. Progress report cards will be sent home at the end of each quarter. Additional conferences may be initiated as needed by the parents or teachers throughout the year.

We will deliver emergency/urgent messages to your child. If at all possible, arrangements for any changes in your child's routine should be made before they come to school in the morning. Students will not be allowed to use the telephone for permission to go home with a friend.

Chipeta Elementary is a free breakfast and lunch site for all students. MENU Link

See the Student Handbook on our home page for detailed expectations. School is your child's "workplace" and consequently we ask that they dress appropriately. Children should dress according to the weather. If it is cold, please send your child to school with warm clothing.

Any clothing which is deemed inappropriate will not be allowed to be worn at school. Please help your child make choices that will be conducive to a positive learning environment. We ask that students not wear tank tops, half shirts, crop tops, short shorts, bike shorts, or slogans promoting alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, or violence, or sagging pants.

Please make sure all coats, hats, and gloves are labeled with your child's name. Let's keep our focus on student learning.

Per new district policy, students in grades preK-8 are prohibited from using personal electronic devices on school premises during the school day (8:25-4:00).  Electronic devices include cell phones, smart watches, tablets, cameras, wireless earbuds, hand held electronic games, etc.  Please leave them at home.  If you need to contact your child, call the office and they will get a note to the student or they will call them down so that you can talk to them.  This policy was created to encourage more engagement in academics and in social relationships.

Inclement weather or other factors may result in closing schools, delayed opening, or early dismissal. School closing will be announced through news stations, the district website and social media. Close contact is maintained with the district transportation office, bus company, highway department, weather bureau, and news media. Closing decisions are made as early as possible. On a questionable day, please check the district website. Please complete the emergency/enrollment form very carefully. Complete, accurate information, including home and work phone numbers, is very important! If there is a change of address or phone number, inform the school promptly.

Children are allowed to bring their own playground equipment, with the exception of hard bats and balls, to play with on the playground. No electronic devices including cell phones, game systems, earbuds, etc. will be allowed at school. All items brought from home must be clearly marked with the child's name. The school cannot be responsible for items lost or stolen. Safety is our main concern and we reserve the right to exclude any items we deem unsafe or inappropriate.