Dear Alta Sierra Intermediate Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Students: We are so excited to welcome you to Alta Sierra Intermediate School on Monday! For our new students, we cannot wait to meet you and help you settle into your new school. For our returning students, we are looking forward to seeing you again and hearing all about your summer adventures.

Parents & Guardians: On behalf of our entire faculty and staff, welcome to Alta Sierra! We are eager to begin a new school year with you and to partner together in supporting your student’s growth and success.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education. We look forward to an incredible year of learning, connection, and community.

With excitement,
Jennifer Carter
Principal, Alta Sierra Intermediate

Traffic is always busy during the first few weeks of school. With approximately 4,800 students attending the three schools in the Buchanan Educational Complex, many parents and student drivers arrive at the same time. This year is a bit more complex to navigate with road construction. There are blinking red lights on Shepard and Peach and Shepard and Minnewawa. And a road closure on Willow in the northbound lane near Bullard.

Please plan ahead and follow these guidelines to help keep everyone safe.

Morning Drop-Off

• Recommended Drop-Off Time: 8:05 a.m.

• Earliest Arrival: 8:00 a.m. (unless enrolled in Zero Period PE or Percussion)

• Please do not drop off students before 8:00 a.m., as there is no supervision prior to this time.

• Free breakfast is available before school —this can help save you time in the morning. It is also available at break for Zero Period PE students and those who were running late.

Primary Drop-Off Location

• Use the parking lot next to the basketball courts on Peach Avenue.

• When exiting this lot, right turns only are allowed for safety.

If you prefer not to turn right, alternate drop-off locations include:

• Peach Ave. (east side)

• Peach Ave. (west side) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Peach Ave. (north of Teague Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Teague Ave. (west of Peach Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

Do NOT Drop Off Students In These Areas:

• Bus loading zone on Teague Ave. in front of the school

• Teague Ave. parking lot in the front of the school

Afternoon Dismissal & Pick-Up

• Students should go directly home after school unless they are attending athletic practice.

• There are no after-school labs during the first week of school.

Primary Pick-Up Location

• Use the parking lot next to the basketball courts on Peach Avenue.

• When exiting this lot, right turns only are allowed for safety.

Alternate pick-up locations:

• Peach Ave. (east side)

• Peach Ave. (west side) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Peach Ave. (north of Teague Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

• Teague Ave. (west of Peach Ave.) – students must walk to the Peach/Teague crosswalk to cross

Do NOT Pick Up Students In These Areas:

• Bus loading zone on Teague Ave. in front of the school

• Teague Ave. parking lot in the front of the school

Tip: To avoid congestion, consider waiting about 10 minutes after dismissal before picking up your student. Traffic clears quickly.

• Morning Arrival: Buses arrive between 8:10–8:20 a.m.

• Afternoon Departure: Buses depart between 3:20–3:25 p.m.

• The bus loading zone is on Teague Avenue in front of Alta Sierra, extending from the main office to the Energy Academy at Buchanan High.

• Please do not park in this zone—signs will be posted to mark it clearly.

• Bike and Scooter Racks are located near the main office.
• Bring a Lock! All bikes, skateboards and scooters must be locked up everyday!
• Bring and WEAR a helmet! Safety is super important and lots of new student drivers are navigating the ed center.

Please check daily to ensure your student is in dress code. Dress code will be monitored every day starting day 1. We begin documented warnings and parent phone calls this week.

Shorts

• Shorts must have a minimum 5-inch inseam AND a straight hem that is even all the way around each leg—front, sides, and back. Shorts may be no shorter than mid thigh.

• To visualize: 5 inches is about the length of a dollar bill and falls around mid-thigh.

• Athletic-style shorts (e.g., Lululemon, Nike running shorts, etc.) that are curved, shorter on the sides, or do not meet both the inseam and straight-hem requirements are not allowed.

• Undergarments must not be visible.

Jeans

• Shorts must have inseam of at least 5 inches.

• Skirts are not shorter that 5 inches above the knee, or no shorter than mid-thigh.

• Can be distressed: must be stitched to avoid further fraying and patched underneath holes not to reveal skin or undergarments.

• Cannot be excessively baggy; must fit and be worn at the waist, and hems cannot be dragged on the ground.

• Shorts cannot be spandex or lycra
• Leggings/jeggings must not be see-through or have mesh/ruching above the knee
• Cannot be sleepwear

• Students in Grades 7-12 can wear shoes or sandals without a heel strap, so lone as they do not present a safety concern.

• No flip flops or slides (e.g., Adidas or Nike slides) are not permitted.

• Tennis shoes are required for PE.

• No slippers

Tops

• Crop tops or bare midriffs are not allowed.

• Tank tops must have a minimum 2-inch shoulder strap. Undergarments must not be visible

• Pajama bottoms and slippers are not allowed.

• Hair color must be a natural color.

For the most current information, please refer to the Clovis Unified Dress Code on the district website.

Alta Sierra Intermediate School is implementing a Limited Cell Phone Policy for all 7th and 8th grade students, effective the 2026-2027 school year. This policy supports student learning, safety, and social-emotional wellness by minimizing distractions and encouraging positive social interaction.

Key Policy Requirements

• Students may actively use cell phones before and after school. 
• Students must turn cell phones off or silent prior to entering their 1st daily class. (bell to bell)
• Phones must be stored in backpacks at all times during the school day in the classroom including passing periods.

Usage Restrictions

• Cell phones are prohibited in restrooms, locker rooms, or other private areas.
• Listening to music or using earbuds, headphones, portable speakers, or other audio devices is not allowed. (bell to bell.)
• Audio or visual recordings with phones are allowed only under staff direction.
• Posting on social media using phones during school hours is not permitted unless directed by staff.

Teacher Discretion

• Teachers may allow the educational use of electronic devices, including cell phones, during class time as appropriate.

Violations and Consequences

• Devices used in violation will be confiscated and turned into Student Services.
• Confiscated devices may only be retrieved by a parent or guardian.
• Progressive disciplinary measures will also be enforced for cell phone violations.

Why a Limited Phone-Free Environment?

Research shows that phone-free policies positively impact students by:

• Improving focus, participation, and academic performance 
• Reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and lowering social pressures 
• Encouraging stronger peer relationships through real conversations.
• Decreasing classroom distractions and incidents of cyberbullying.

Additional Notes

• The school/district is not responsible for lost or stolen devices and will not investigate such cases.
• Students wishing to contact parents during the day may use their cell phone or a school phone with staff permission, under staff supervision.
• In emergencies, parents should contact the school’s main office to reach their student.

All students are eligible to receive lunch and one additional meal before school or at break each day at no charge. We recommend eating before school, as there is more time to get served.

Lunch lines tend to be long during the first few weeks of school, but all students have enough time to eat. At the secondary level, students walk themselves to the lunch lines.

We have:

• 2 lines inside the MPR

• 4 to 5 lines at the outside windows

Students can also choose to wait until the lines shorten before getting in line to ensure they have enough time.

With no-cost meals for all students, no student will ever go hungry during the school day unless they choose not to eat. Please note that at the secondary level, students are not required to eat lunch.

Food & Lunch Deliveries

Alta Sierra Intermediate School does not accept deliveries from food delivery services such as Grubhub, Postmates, DoorDash, Jimmy John’s, or similar vendors. This policy also applies to other deliveries such as balloons, flowers, or gifts.

However, we will never deny a parent access to their child. If you wish to bring lunch for your student:

• Check in at the front office between 12:35 p.m. and 12:40 p.m. with a valid photo ID.

• Our staff will verify your identity through the Raptor system.

• Once cleared, you may personally hand your student the lunch you provide.

Important Notes:

• Parents may provide lunch only for their own student, not for friends or other students.

• For safety and supervision, parents must come into the office—students may not meet parents in the parking lot or at the street to receive items.

Forgotten Item Drop-Offs

Forgotten items—such as towels, athletic gear, textbooks, PE clothes, or shoes—should also be dropped off in the main office.

• We do not deliver items to classrooms or maintain a drop-off table.

• If you bring an item, we are happy to call your student out of class so they can pick it up from you directly.

At Alta Sierra, we value the development of responsibility and independence. Experiencing the natural consequences of forgetting an item helps students grow in organization, problem-solving, and accountability. We encourage families to allow students to manage their own responsibilities—even if that occasionally means going without a forgotten item.

Students will report to the MPR Week 1 of school for PE.

PE Clothes & Locks:

• Available for purchase in PE classes during the first week of school.

• Checks should be made payable to Clovis Unified School District.

Zero Period PE

• Begins Day 1
• Students report directly to the mpr at 7:25 a.m.

Lunch Period PE

• Begins Day 1.
• Students report straight to PE at 12:35 p.m.
• After PE, students will have the last 10 minutes of lunch to eat.

• Students must follow the schedule assigned to them in Parent/Student Connect on Monday. Please use Parent Connect as Parent Square does not have room numbers listed.
• If your students does not have a schedule, please visit the table outside the main office and our support staff will assist you.
• If you have sent in a schedule change request, please be aware that they can take 1-3 weeks to complete them (pending space availability.) You will be notified if your request can be made. Thank you for your patience during this process.
• Schedule change requests are made for academic need and errors only. We do not make adjustments for teacher requests or period requests or elective requests.
• Please be aware, if a schedule adjustment is made, your students entire schedule is subject to change to accommodate your request.

Requirements to participate: A completed homecampus.com account including a current sport physical.

• Football practice has begin.
• All other fall Sports Begin: Monday, August 24th @ 3:30pm. (Boys and Girls Water Polo & Cross Country, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball & Tennis)

Reminder: Parent Newsletters will be sent home weekly during Aug and Sept through Parent Square. Beginning in Oct, newsletters will be sent out weekly. PLEASE review this information with your student. 

Students will receive additional information through Student Square and Daily Announcements.

We value you as a partner in education and appreciate your questions and thoughts. If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out. All email contacts are listed on our ASI webpage. Jennifercarter@cusd.com

The ASI & BHS Foundation (Parent Teacher Club) is a non-profit organization of parents, guardians, teachers, and staff at our school site. Our mission is to plan community events to raise money to support the programs and educational experience that sets our school apart from the rest.

What does membership entail?
Membership is a great way to ensure future quality academic and co-curricular programs. Your membership requires no commitment of time or meeting attendance. We encourage you to take an active role in the education of our rising generation by joining the foundation!

How do I join?

• Drop off a check made out to the Clovis Unified School District in the main office before or after school. Print and write Membership Drive and your students first and last name on the check. If you prefer to drop off a cash donation, please include this information on the sealed envelope.
• Stop by the Foundation Membership Drive Table at Back to School Night and drop off your check there.
• An online link is coming soon....