Students who have consistent and regular attendance do better academically and socially. By law in Colorado, it is required that every child aged 6-17 attend school.

If you are absent…

• A parent/guardian must call school on the day of your absence. The HPS phone number is 970-328-2940.

• Students who miss school work because of excused or unexcused absences shall be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Students will, at the minimum, be allowed one day to make up work for each day missed. Although the school staff is obligated to facilitate the make-up work process, the prime responsibility for ensuring work is completed in a timely manner lies with the student and family. It should also be understood that there are activities and instruction that happen in the classroom that are experiential and cannot be made up, therefore students and families must accept the natural consequences for missing classes. 

• An automated message will be sent to parents/guardians when a student is absent and it has not been excused. Automated messages will be sent around 10am on the day of the absence if the parent/guardian has not yet contacted the school regarding the absence. 

Pre-excused absences…

• Must be approved five (5) days before the day(s) you will miss school.

• Must include a note from a parent or guardian, or have his/her signature on the form.

• Forms should be completed and returned to the office two days prior to the absence.

• Check with your teachers regarding work to be done before, during and after your absence.

Elementary School (K-5th) Hours are 7:55 am – 3:00 pm

Middle School (6th-8th) Hours are 7:55 am – 3:00 pm 

On Wednesdays we start school an hour later.

The school is open for early arriving students at 7:40 am. First bell rings at 7:50 am and students are to be in their classroom by 7:55 am. Students who arrive to class after the late bell of 7:55 am are tardy and must check in at the office for a Tardy Pass. A parent must sign them in at the front office.

All Eagle County School District (ECSD) schools have Late Start on Wednesday each week. On Wednesday, school begins one hour later than other days of the week. Classes will begin at 8:55 a.m. School will be dismissed at the regular time.

HPS is a closed campus. Students will not be allowed to leave the school campus between the time of arrival and the close of school. A parent/guardian may make a written request for waiver of this policy to administration for unusual circumstances that would necessitate the student leaving the campus by him or herself.

Elementary School (K-5th) Hours are 7:55 am – 3:00 pm

Middle School (6th-8th) Hours are 7:55 am – 3:00 pm 

On Wednesdays we start school an hour later.

The school is open for early arriving students at 7:40 am. First bell rings at 7:50 am and students are to be in their classroom by 7:55 am. Students who arrive to class after the late bell of 7:55 am are tardy and must check in at the office for a Tardy Pass. A parent must sign them in at the front office.

All Eagle County School District (ECSD) schools have Late Start on Wednesday each week. On Wednesday, school begins one hour later than other days of the week. Classes will begin at 8:55 a.m. School will be dismissed at the regular time.

HPS is a closed campus. Students will not be allowed to leave the school campus between the time of arrival and the close of school. A parent/guardian may make a written request for waiver of this policy to administration for unusual circumstances that would necessitate the student leaving the campus by him or herself.

Students perform better academically if they are in school on time and prepared for class every day. We will take attendance in PowerSchool daily for students K-5th and every period for grades 6th-8th. If a student arrives at school late they are required to have an office pass to enter class. A student will be considered absent for that period if they miss 20 minutes or more. 

We have a school district leveled system for chronic absences. Absences are considered unexcused when we are unable to determine a reason for the absence from parents. Parents should always call in to excuse their student from school when students are absent due to illness or family emergency. 

Middle School Guidelines

Note: ALL absences, excused and unexcused are totaled and will result in the following actions.  Minutes of tardies are considered in attendance totals as well.

# of Absences by periods (6  periods a day) Action

16 Unexcused or

40 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Courtesy call from school

24 Unexcused or

80 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Warning letter sent home from school

32 Unexcused or

120 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Parent meeting to develop truancy prevention plan

40 Unexcused or

200 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Summons to Truancy Court

Elementary School Guidelines

Note:  ALL absences, excused and unexcused are totalled and will result in the following actions. Minutes of tardies are considered in attendance totals as well.

# of Absences by periods (6  periods a day) Action

2 days Unexcused or 

5 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Courtesy call from school

3 days Unexcused or 

10 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Warning letter sent home from school

4 days Unexcused or 

15 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Parent meeting to develop truancy prevention plan

5 days Unexcused or 

25 Total (Excused and Unexcused) Summons to Truancy Court

Leaving Early from School:

Parents, if you will be picking your child up from school prior to the school day ending, please come into the main office and sign your child out. If your child will be picked up by someone other than yourself, please provide a signed note indicating the person that will be taking your child and acknowledge permission to do so. A note should be provided to your student’s teacher and the office. Please inform anyone picking up your child that they will need appropriate identification.

As a student of HPS you represent yourself and our school, and it is expected that all students make positive choices. You are required to adhere to the expectations outlined in the Eagle County School District’s policies found on the school district website. While the expectation is that all students make positive choices, we also understand that mistakes and poor decisions happen as a natural part of growing up. The purpose of our discipline program is to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for learning. We believe we can have a safe and comfortable environment if we as a staff set behavior expectations, remain consistent, and assign consequences that are natural and fair. Our leveled discipline process is designed to help students learn from their mistakes because we believe every situation is an opportunity to learn.

HPS Discipline Tiers

Tier 1 - Interference with the instructional process - Teacher Managed -

• Cheating/Lying – communicates a message that is untrue and/or deliberately violates a rule. This includes an academic integrity violation and forgery. 

• Defiance - brief or low-intensity failure to respond to adult requests.

• Disruption - in low intensity, but inappropriate behavior.  Includes throwing objects.

• Dress Code (Teacher managed 1. Ask to cover up 2. Send to the office for more clothes 3. Call home and record on google doc.)

• Harassment/Bullying – Student delivers disrespectful messages (verbal or gestures) to another person that includes threats and intimidation, obscene gestures, pictures or written notes. Disrespectful messages include negative  comments based on race, religion, gender, age and/or national origin; sustained or intense verbal attacks based on ethnic origin, disabilities or other personal matters.

• Inappropriate Language - low-intensity instance of inappropriate language; not directed at anyone.

• Lack of Preparedness

• Physical Contact - low intensity such as horseplay, scratching, or inappropriate displays of affection.

• Property Misuse – low-intensity misuse of property- includes technology.  (Cell phone violations are a separate policy.)

• Off-task Behavior (e.g., out of seat, socializing, grooming…)

• Stealing - in possession of someone else’s property.

• Tardy (Teacher managed until it appears on admin’s truancy report from district.)

• Other

Tier 2 - Severe/repeated disruption - Admin managed

• Chronic Teacher-Managed Behaviors (3-6 times or 5 Step Discipline Process #5)

  • Teacher starts/revises behavior plan tracked for RtI

• Abusive Language – Student delivers verbal messages that include swearing, name calling, or use of words in an inappropriate way (directed at someone).

• Defiance, Repeated – Student engages in refusal to follow directions, talks back and/or delivers socially rude interactions.

• Disruption, Significant-Student engages in repeated, but inappropriate disruption.

• Ditching Class

• Harassment/Bullying, Significant - ongoing and/or increase in severity.

• Property Damage – Student participates in an activity that results in the destruction or disfigurement of property.

• Stealing, Significant - Student is in possession of someone else’s property. High monetary value or repeated behavior.

Tier 3 - Illegal and crisis situations - Admin managed

• Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco, or Related Paraphernalia Possession or Use

• Threat Against School or Person

• Violent Fighting/Physical Aggression Towards Others – Student engages in actions involving serious physical contact where injury may occur(e.g. hitting, punching, hitting with an object, kicking, etc.)

• Weapons Possession

• Other

We want students to respect themselves and others and while we encourage individuality, our dress code aims to foster a positive and healthy environment for everyone.  We align with the Eagle County Schools Student Dress Code Policy.

1. Clothing shall be neat and clean.

2. Shoes must be worn at all times.

3. Acceptable clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, or body adornments are those that do not: 

   1. Bare or expose traditionally private parts of the body including, but not limited to, the stomach, buttocks, back and breasts

   2. Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons

   3. Are of a sexual nature

   4. By virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute denote membership in gangs which advocate drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior

   5. Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous

   6. Threaten the safety or welfare of any person

   7. Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct

   8. Otherwise disrupt the teaching-learning process

   9. Additionally, no hats, bandanas, or hoods.  Headbands are subject to administrator approval.  Appropriate headgear may be worn outdoors.

 Exceptions

1. Appropriate athletic clothing may be worn in physical education classes.  Clothing normally worn when participating in school-sponsored extracurricular or sports activities (such as sports jerseys and the like) may be worn to school when approved by the sponsor or coach. 

2. Building principals, in conjunction with the school accountability committee, may develop and adopt school-specific dress codes that are consistent with this policy.

3. The school reserves the right to restrict the activity of any student around equipment or machinery or in any other situations where the student's health or safety is directly related to the manner of dress.

A violation of the dress code will require a change of clothing. Habitual violations will constitute defiance and will be subject to progressive consequences. If the clothing or accessories threaten the health or safety of any other person, then discipline for these dress code violations should be consistent with discipline policies for similar violations.

In order to keep learning and relationships our focus, students will not be permitted to turn on, use, or display any personal electronic devices (including but not limited to cell phones, tablets, and smart watches) during school hours, including field/adventure trips. If a student must bring a device to school, it must remain turned off in the student’s locker or backpack in their cubby.  If it is necessary for a student to bring a device to school, they are welcome to check it in with the front office upon arrival at school. The school/district is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen devices.

What Parents Can Do:

• Please have your child leave their electronic devices at home.

• If your student must bring an electronic device to school, please reinforce that the device needs to be turned off and in their locker or backpack in their cubby.

• Discuss with your child how you will communicate with them if there are changes in your routine (ex. parent will call school and leave a message with office staff.  Messages will be delivered to students in their classroom.)

Consequences:

• Warning by the teacher during the 1st week of school.

• After the first week of school, cell phone/device infractions will result in confiscation and sent to the main office. 

• First offense, students may pick up their cell phone/device at the end of the day and parent notification.

• Following offenses, parents are notified to pick up the cell phone/device at the end of the school day.

Internet Use

HPS recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration and provides appropriate devices for students to be productive in the classroom. Students are expected to use the Internet and computer network in an acceptable and appropriate manner and only with permission and supervision. Failure to do so can result in loss of privileges.

ECSD Student AI Agreements

The agreement statements below align with Guiding Principles of AI Use in ECSD and provide guidelines of acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) by students in ECSD.

1. Students will use AI tools responsibly, ethically, and in alignment with school rules and district policies.  Creating or sharing harmful, misleading, or inappropriate content violates district policies. 

2. Students will not enter personal, sensitive, or confidential data into any AI tool, including any student identifiable data related to education records.

3. Students will critically evaluate AI-generated content for potential inaccuracies, persuasive tone, and bias. It is vital to understand the limitations of AI and the importance of cross-referencing with factual sources.

4. Students will follow staff instructions on when and how to use AI on an assignment and will check with the instructor when unsure.

5. Students will follow staff instructions for appropriately disclosing and/or citing AI-generated content.  AI is not a substitute for original thought, and students will not claim AI-generated content as their own work.  

Guiding Principles for AI Use in ECSD

The following principles guide the appropriate and safe use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)  in Eagle County School District. We commit to adopting processes, procedures, and agreements to uphold each principle.

We use AI as a tool to help all students reach their educational goals.  

AI has the potential to help us reach our district’s goals, including improving student learning, teacher effectiveness, and school operations.  We aim to make AI tools universally accessible. 

We value AI Literacy.  

Students and staff will build their AI Literacy skills in order to utilize AI tools responsibly and ethically.  Critical evaluation of AI responses, paying special attention to inaccuracies, persuasive tone, and bias is essential when using AI tools. 

We reaffirm adherence to existing policies and regulations. 

AI use will align with policies and procedures around protecting student safety, data privacy, and accessibility.

We maintain human oversight when using AI.  

When partnering with AI, we maintain human oversight throughout the entire process (Human In → Human Out).  AI tools can serve as a thought partner but do not replace the critical thinking responsibilities of students, teachers, or administrators.  

We use AI with integrity and honesty.  

Students will be truthful in giving credit to AI sources and tools when submitting work that reflects their learning.    

We strive to monitor, review, and evaluate our district’s use of AI.   

Understanding that AI and technologies are evolving rapidly, we strive to monitor, review, and evaluate our district’s use of AI to adjust our procedures, practices, and agreements accordingly. 

Each elementary school student is given a cubby, and all middle school students are assigned a locker. Students are expected to not share the combination with anyone other than their locker buddy or exchange lockers with another student. If a student chooses to not share a locker as assigned by the school administration, they will be assigned a cubby.

Lockers and locks are the property of Homestake Peak School. Students are responsible for the upkeep of their locker and will be responsible for any damages. Students may lose locker privileges for any misuse and not be reassigned to another locker. Since lockers are the property of the school, school personnel may search them at any time, with “reasonable suspicion” as determined by the administration, without student permission.

Each sport costs $35, and students must have an active physical (within the calendar year) on file in order to participate. HPS offers the following school sports:

• Cross Country Running

• Football

• Girls Volleyball

• Boys Basketball

• Girls Basketball

• Wrestling

• Track & Field

Athletic Eligibility

At HPS, we believe that both academics and athletics are important for all students, including student athletes. Students earning two 2 or more 1’s in their classes will be on Academic Probation until the grades are brought up. Students may be required to participate in any academic support opportunities as directed by staff (lunch bunch, study club, goal setting, tutoring, etc.) until they are off of Academic Probation. Students with 3 or more missing assignments will be unable to participate in athletic competitions. Students with 7 or more missing assignments will be unable to participate in athletic practices or competitions.

For more details about Athletics at HPS please click on the Athletic Tab on this site.