Family & Student Resources

Attendance

All excused absences shall not exceed ten days.
  • Mandatory civic duty: Duty notice shall be submitted to the office.
  • Personal illness: Only a doctor’s note or a maximum of ONE day signed and dated parental note will be honored as an excused absence for personal illness.
  • Visit to the school infirmary: The student will only be admitted back to class after receiving a note from the School Nurse/Secretary. A maximum of ONE class period can be granted as excused.
  • Hajj: Up to 7 additional school-days beyond Eid Holiday posted on the school calendar or with special permission beyond 7 days given in writing to the Principal.
  •  In-School Suspension:  Course assignments for students on the in-school suspension will be provided by the teachers before each class
  • School-related absence:  If a student misses class due to a preapproved school-related activity
  • Unexcused absences:  All other absences than the above mentioned excused absences are unexcused. Unexcused absence must not exceed five days. It will be reported to the proper authorities when the limit is reached.
  • Prayer attendance:  Athan is called daily around 12:45 PM and all students are expected to respect and obey prayer, masjid, and school rules.
  • All the students will be in class at 7:45 AM. Students will be made tardy after 7:50 AM.
  • Any student who enters the class after the 2nd bell rings is marked tardy.
  • A total of 6 tardies is equivalent to a 1-day unexcused absence.
  • Arrival after 8:00 am is marked absent.

Zero Tolerance Policy

  • The ACA Admin is fully authorized to carry out the school discipline policy, including the decision to expel students who violate “Zero tolerance policy”.
  • The Administration shall follow due process, by interviewing the accused, and other witnesses, weighing the evidence, allowing the accused to defend and explain their behavior before reaching a decision.
  • In case of a decision of expulsion, the Administration shall promptly notify the Board, who will review the case and ensure that the Administration has done so.
  • Under Arizona law, parents/guardians are liable for damage done by their children.
  • In any situation in which damage to school property occurs, the student or parents/guardians are required to pay for damages.
  • If restitution is made in the designated time frame, additional consequences will result.
  • All out-of-school suspensions are unexcused and all missed work will result in zeros.
  • Short term suspension (STS): The student is suspended for a maximum of 3 school-days.
  • Long term suspension (LTS): The student is suspended for 4-10 schooldays.
  • If a short term suspension/ long term suspension is imposed on a student, the following steps shall be taken:
    • Step 1: Any major misconduct shall be reported to the Principal.
    • Step 2: The advisor, designated by the Principal, investigates/ evaluates the case and decides on the appropriate consequences based on the discipline code/ procedure posed in the handbook.
    • Step 3: Due process shall be in place. The involved student and his/her parents shall be provided an opportunity to defend the case unless they give up such an opportunity. The parents’ conference must be conducted before any decision is to be made.
    • Step 4: In the event that the parents disagree with the consequences, the case may be appealed to the Principal.

Items Not Permitted

A school is a place where students come to be educated. We believe that there are certain things that disrupt the educational process, and therefore are not permitted. The following is a representative list including, but not limited to those, items that will not be allowed for a student to carry on him/herself or in a backpack at school:

  • Cellular Phones and other personal communication devices during school hours
  • Video Cameras
  • Smartwatches
  • Bluetooth headphones
  • Technology devices without a permission slip
  • Laser Pointers or similar devices
  • Pets/Animals
  • Skateboards/roller-skates/in-line skates/ “heelies”
  • Water guns/aerosol cans
  • Pocketknives
  • Large dollar bills, ($20 is the only most on field trips)
  • Medications and all kinds of medicine.
    These must be handed over to the Infirmary to be administered by the School Nurse.
  • Gameboys, Nintendo, iPods, MP3 players, and other personal devices
  • Anything deemed inappropriate for the learning environment
  • Exceptions may be made for special activities or classes that require any of the above. All items considered unacceptable will be confiscated and will not be returned until the end of the school year.
  • ACA accepts no liability for loss, cost, replacement or revenue of confiscated items.
  • The administration reserves the right to use discretion in defining unacceptable items.

Grades K-5 Boys Uniform

BOYS K-5:

  • Baby blue short or long sleeve polo shirts with embroidered logo
  • Navy blue uniform pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs)
  • Optional: Navy jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon
  • All students must wear black pants with the required PE shirts on PE days. Gym pants may be worn if they are solid black. If preferred, students will be allowed to change for the PE period. They may wear gray t-shirts and gym pants during PE only. Please see the ACA School policy for dress code violations.

Refer to the Verona website.

Grades K-5 Girls Uniform

GIRLS Grades K-5:

  • Plaid jumper short or long sleeve
  • Navy leggings or navy pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs)
  • Optional hijab; white or navy blue
  • Optional: Navy jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon
  • All students must wear black pants with the required PE shirts on PE days. Gym pants may be worn if they are solid black. If preferred, students will be allowed to change for the PE period. They may wear gray t-shirts and gym pants during PE only. Please see the ACA School policy for dress code violations.

*Grade 5 girls must wear long sleeves*

Refer to the Verona website.

Grades 6-8 Boys Uniform

  • Hunter green short or long sleeve polo with embroidered logo
  • Khaki uniform pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs)
  • Optional: Hunter green jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon

Items to be purchased from Verona. Refer to the Verona website.

Grades 6-8 Girls Uniform

  • Hunter green tunic
  • Khaki uniform pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs and high heels)
  • Mandatory hijab; two colours: hunter green or nude/beige
  • Optional: Hunter green jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon
  • *To be purchased from Verona*

Refer to the Verona website.

Grades 9-12 Boys Uniform

  • Navy blue short or long sleeve with embroidered logo OR navy button down dress shirt
  • Khaki uniform pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs)
  • OR navy blue thobe with ACA embroidery may be worn any day of the week
  • Optional: Navy jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon

Items to be purchased from Verona. Refer to the Verona website.

Grades 9-12 Girls Uniform

  • Navy blue tunic
  • Khaki uniform pants
  • White/gray/black socks
  • Any closed toe shoes (excluding crocs and high heels)
  • Mandatory hijab two colors: navy blue or nude/beige
  • Girls may also choose to wear ACA abaya with mandatory hijab color options; navy blue or nude/beige
  • Optional: Navy jacket with front zip and no hood; can be purchased from Verona or Amazon

Items to be purchased from Verona. Refer to the Verona website.

Hair/ Earrings/ Jewelry

  • No nail polish or color should be used on nails.
  • No excessive makeup, including but not limited to foundation, eye color, lipstick, mascara, and eyeliner.
  • No exaggerated jewelry, including but not limited to large chains, rings, bracelets, and hijab or hair accessories.
  • No body-art or piercings, temporary or otherwise. Girls’ grades 1-4 should have hair that is neat, clean, moderate and natural in color.
  • No use of excessive gels and hairspray. Hair should not be in the child’s eyes and must be neat and clean.
  • No exaggerated hairstyles or extensions.
  • Girls’ grades 5-12 are to wear their hijab at all times.
  • Boys’ hair should be neat, clean, natural in color, and moderately cut (above the collar in the back and above the eyebrows in front and above the middle of the earlobes on the sides).
  • No use of excessive gels and hairspray. Hair must be neat and clean.
  • No exaggerated hairstyles or extensions.
  • No goatees, exaggerated or inappropriate beards or sideburn styles.
  • Boys should not wear hats, caps, headgear, makeup or jewelry of any kind on campus.
  • Jackets with hoodies need to be worn with the hood down on campus at all times.

Student & Parent Resources

Academic Programs Offered at ACA

Graduation Requirements State/College Guidelines

Click the link below to access the lists the credit requirements that must be fulfilled for graduation.

College Guidelines

International Student Program

Arizona Cultural Academy is qualified to enroll non-immigrant international students into our academic program.

The program is designed to bring positive, diverse, and academically successful students to share in the cultural exchange and academic experience.

Students and staff can enhance their cultural, academic, and interpersonal education through this international exchange.

This program is offered to students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. As a certified SEVIS provider, we will process the immigration I-20 student visa.

International Student Criteria

Transcript Equivalency Evaluation

Students who have attended school outside the United States must obtain a transcript equivalency evaluation. We recommend that you use these sites for that purpose:

https://www.ece.org/ECE/Individuals/Education-Reports

https://www.wes.org/

http://aes-edu.org/website/home/index.cfm

https://www.gceus.com/

Health Information & Resources

Assalamu Aleikum ACA Parents and families,

Welcome back to another School year! We ask Allah to make it a successful year and a healthy one for you and your family. The school Health Office will serve the needs of sick and injured students in Campus. To ensure your child`s health and safety we would like to share a few important items:

Medical History

Your child medical information MUST be renewed every year or we will assume past concerns/illness were resolved.

Any Health problem is shared with the Health Office is extremely confidential.

Immunizations Req.

All students must meet Arizona State Immunization requirements in order to attend school. Please make sure your child is up to date on all immunizations. Your child’s healthcare provider can help you determine if he/she needs further immunizations.

Students entering the 6th grade must have completed their required immunization. From age 11 years and up, some immunizations are required by the Arizona Department of Health. These vaccines or any that are missing must be received before the school year August 6, 2018, or students will be excluded unexcused until completed.

Student Health History

Please let the School Health Office know if your child has a significant health problem, life-threatening allergies or special medical concerns. If your child has any medical condition that requires medication or treatment during the school day. This includes asthma, diabetes, seizures, and allergies with Epi-pen or other medical condition. You must provide us with a note or care plan from your child`s healthcare provider.

Medication at School

If your child needs to take medication during the school day a consent form for medication administration must be signed. Forms are available at the school office or on our website.

Important:

  • For all medications, you must bring the medication to the school yourself in the original pharmacy- labeled bottle with a valid expiration date; do not send with your child.
  • All prescription medication must be properly labeled with the child`s full name, type of medication, prescriber instruction specifies dosage, route of administration, frequency and ending date of treatment. Ask your pharmacy to supply you with an extra bottle for school use.
  • The first dose of any new medication cannot be given at school. Any potential side effect must be monitored at home.
  • Medication is found in possession of a student without permission. The School disciplinary procedures will be followed by the Principal.
  • If your child is feeling sick during the school day. He/ She must be assessed in order to be dismissed. Students are not allowed to call or text parents that they are sick and need to go home.
  • Diabetics- We must have School Diabetic Care Plan on file from your physician. This will help us in case of an emergency to assist and give a proper care to the student.
  • Students with severe and life-threatening allergy need to have a 2nd Epi-Pen in school for an emergency reaction.
  • Students with asthma need to have an inhaler available as a back-up when is needed.
  • If a student is permitted by parent/guardian to self-carry or self-administer medication; a Medication Administration Form for this situation is requested to complete.
  • All medication must be picked up by parent/guardian at the end of the school year. In case of medication not retrieved will be dispensed at the end of the year.
  • Prescription Medicine Administration Permission Form

Please always make sure the school has current phone numbers for you and other emergency persons.

When to keep your child at home

Children are in close contact with one another at school. If parents keep their children home at the first signs of illness, it will help us prevent the spread of that illness to other children in the classroom.  It`s better to plan ahead of time and have a list of close people who may care for your sick child while you at work.

These are the guidelines and symptoms we look for at school to determine when to send children home.

  • A sore throat
  • A persistent cough
  • A runny nose if the discharge is yellow or green
  • Oral temperature over 100 degrees( temperature should remain normal for 24 hours before returning to school)
  • A headache or stomach ache in combination with other symptoms(a cough or a sore throat)
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Unidentified rash or communicable skin rash. (child may return to school following proper treatment)
  • Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) in one or both eye. The whites of the eyes will appear pink or red and feel painful and itchy. There may be yellow or green crystals around the eye or lashes.
  • Earache and ear drainage.

Keep in mind that healthy children learn better. You`re the first person to teach your child`s healthy habits. These are a few tips to boost your child`s immune system:

  • Make sure they get plenty of rest each night.
  • Encourage Healthy food: offer lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit junk food such as sweets and chips.
  • Encourage water for thirst instead of soda or juice
  • Teach your child to keep body and hair clean, to brush  teeth twice a day and to wash hands OFTEN
  • Be sure your child gets daily exercise out in the fresh air whenever possible.