Welcome to STEP - August 2024!

TUESDAY, August 27, 2024 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

STEP Open House: You are invited to attend our Open House on Tuesday, August 27, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Everyone is welcome — new students, returning students, family, and friends! Check out your classroom, meet your teachers, and ask us questions about our program and procedures for the first day of school. We want to help you!

Welcome to STEP! We are so pleased that you have decided to enroll at STEP (Secondary Technical Education Pro­gram) for the 2024-2025 school year. We are located on the Anoka Technical College campus. We hope that you will find your learning experience valuable. Whether you plan to attend college or work after high school, our STEP program offers you an opportunity to "try college" while you are still in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

STEP students can:

· Explore a career while in high school

· Earn technical or community college credits

· Check out what college is really like

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL/FRESHMAN TRANSITION DAY:

Tuesday, September 3rd: This day is for 9th-grade students and students who are new to the district. Students who are in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades are not required to attend on this day. If your student is new to the district and has a class scheduled at STEP, we will have the opportunity for your student to come to the building, get a tour, meet teachers, and get acclimated to our school. The district will provide transportation to and from STEP at the regular shuttle times from your home high school. Students have the opportunity to drive as well.

Wednesday, September 4th: This is the first required day of school for 10th - 12th grade students, including STEP students.

September 5th & 6th: follow your regular schedule.

Bus transportation to and from your home high school will be provided for STEP full-time and part-time students. It is the responsibility of each student riding the bus to behave properly. Driving demands the bus driver's full attention. For the safety of everyone, do nothing to distract the driver. Transportation may be refused to anyone causing a disturbance or endangering the bus, as per published district policy.

Students may drive to and from STEP. Any tardiness or absences that result from not riding school district transportation will be unexcused.

If students miss the shuttle bus to STEP, they are to report to their Attendance office for further direction.

Student transportation information will be included on your student's My Student Information page.

• Sign in with your username and password. (If you did not receive, or forgot this information, please call 763-506-HELP.)

• Click on the My Student Information icon and login

• Click on your student's photo. Scroll to the bottom of the screen to find your student's transportation information.

Bus Transportation Phone Number: 763-506-1125

Parking Lot: All STEP students should park in Parking Lot B (east of the STEP building).

Parking Permit: A parking permit is required for automobiles parking on school days during the normal school hours.

• STEP full-time students may obtain a free STEP permit when they register their automobile.

• STEP part-time students need to have a home school parking permit and register their car.

Students who abuse parking lot rules and regula­tions may lose their permit privileges. Any student may have his/her parking permit suspended or revoked as a disciplinary consequence for tardiness, truancy, and behavior.

Anoka-Hennepin schools work hard to provide a safe environment for students. The district’s Health and Safety Committee reviews concerns and suggests safe practices for schools to follow. However, despite best efforts, accidents do occasionally happen. Even normal childhood activities such as playing on the playground or participating in physical education classes carry a potential for injury.

The district does not provide insurance coverage for accidents that may occur during the regular school day. Parents should consider this when planning their family insurance program. As a service to students and their families, the district is offering its students the opportunity to purchase low-cost student accident insurance at a nominal cost. (Annual cost is $75 per year for at school protection under the standard plan.) This insurance can help with deductibles and co-pays under your health insurance plan or provide primary coverage for accidents when no health insurance is available. All school-sponsored and supervised activities and time spent in school are covered as defined by the terms and limitations of the policy. (Skiing is excluded. Football coverage is available for an additional charge). Families can purchase 24-hour coverage for an increased premium. Additional benefits are available by purchasing Deluxe Benefits coverage.

Please note insurance is recommended for students participating in district athletics.

To Find the Brochure PDF and/or enroll online:

1. Go to the home page at www.1stAgency.com

2. Go to “Find Your School” (under Anoka-Hennepin); select the state; and hit “Go”

3. You can download and print the brochure/enrollment form PDF and enroll via mail OR enroll online with a credit card.

The STEP program has an "open lunch" policy for STEP full-time students. Students may choose to do the following:

• Request a district bag lunch. You must use a PIN (student ID# number) as you have done at your home high school. Each day there will be a different option from sub sandwiches to salads. Students who request the bag lunch must sign up each day at the STEP attendance desk before school begins.
• Purchase a lunch in the Anoka Technical College cafeteria. Costs vary from $3.00 to $6.00, depending on your choice of food items. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the days that the col­lege is in session.
• Leave campus to eat at a nearby restaurant, drive-in, or go home.

Every student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost per day during the school year. The cost of a la carte items, such as milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items.

If your family needs access to any other educational benefits available to your student, please visit ahschools.us/freereduced to complete an application. The enrollment window for the 2024 Applications for Educational Benefits begins Aug. 1, 2024. Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding, and you can save money. Educational benefits include:

● Athletics fees: Eligible students may qualify for fees to be waived or reduced.

● SAT, ACT, and AP Fees: Students may be eligible for discounted fees for academic tests and some lab fees.

● Other high school activities: Students may qualify for discounts on speech, debate, theater, band, and others.

● Additional benefits and cost savings: Chromebook device protection, Comcast Internet Essentials discount, Amazon Prime membership discounts, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, and discounts at museums and theaters.

Resources:

● Educational Benefits flyer

● Educational Benefits flyer (Spanish coming soon)

● Informational video (coming soon

STEP will use a "paperless" system for progress reports and report cards. This system improves communication and allows parents/guardians to receive their student's information in a timely and confidential manner. Parents and guardians may view STEP students' progress in ParentVue.

PLEASE CALL 763-433-4006 OR 763-433-4000 AND PRESS #1

Verification of all absences should be made via tele­phone to the attendance line or emailed by 10:00 a.m. on the day of absence or by presenting a written excuse before school starts the following day. A telephone number should be included with the written note so the par­ent/guardian may be contacted during the day.

Please note: if the STEP Attendance Office does not receive a note, phone call, or email from the parent by the beginning of school on the day of the student's return, the student's absence will be considered unverified.

Regular attendance is critical to learning. Attending classes and fulfilling class requirements are essential for graduation.

Excused absences (i.e. illnesses, family emergencies, prearranged absences with parental permission) and school-authorized absences (i.e. field trips. official re­ligious holidays, death in the immediate family, court appointments, or hospitalization) must have verifica­tion at the time of the absence. Verification of all ab­sences by a parent/guardian must be made via telephone or email by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.

If an absence is not school-authorized and not veri­fied as excused, the student will be considered tru­ant. Given that truanting a class is a deliberate and conscious decision, truancies will result in additional consequences.

Students who leave school during the day, for any reason, must check out through the Attendance Office. Students must have a pass from the Attendance Office to go to the parking lot. Students who leave the building without permission may be subject to consequences.

Parent or guardian communication is required in order to excuse a student with an appointment with a health professional. Students are expected to return to school following their appointment and must check in at the Attendance Office. Should a student become ill, it is necessary to check out through the Attendance Office.

Students who are suspended from school are not allowed to participate in any school activities or athletics.

Lockers are provided for STEP full-time students and upon request for part-time students.

STEP conference sign-ups are online. Please follow the steps below to sign up for your preferred conference date and time.

1. Please go to www.myconferencetime.com/step

2. Find and click on the name of your student’s teacher.

3. Select your preferred date and time.

4. Enter the required information. (E-mail address is not required, but if you enter one, you will receive an email confirmation.

5. Click “Sign Up for Your Conference” near the bottom of the screen.

6. You’re done! That’s all there is to it.

The Anoka-Hennepin School District Policy Handbook will be mailed to homes of all currently registered students.

In addition to important policies, the handbook also provides information on such things as cancellation of school for extreme weather conditions, immunization requirements, how to tell if a child is well enough to attend school, procedures for expressing concerns and much more.

Digital copies of the publication are currently available under "Policy Handbook" on the District's Document Center here.

Please call the school office, 763-433-4000, if you have any questions or if your family does not receive a printed copy.

The Anoka Hennepin School District understands the important role technology plays in today’s world. Computers and a reliable connection to the Internet are more important than ever in helping our students complete homework and succeed in their education. It’s also important for families to apply for jobs, communicate, or enjoy leisure time together.

It’s for those reasons that we want district families to know about different programs available for families in need.

For students who qualify for free or reduced lunch costs, Internet Essentials may be able to assist with Internet access. Visit InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for more information.

Technology plays an important role in preparing students for life, and Chromebooks are utilized as a daily learning tool in Anoka-Hennepin's middle and high school classrooms. Anoka-Hennepin students in grades 6-12 are assigned a Chromebook from the school district to ensure access to technology systems that support classroom learning.

Over 28,000 Chromebooks are distributed to students during the first week of school. As careful as students and schools are, accidents do happen each year - and thousands of Chromebooks are returned at the end of the school year with damages.

Families have the option to enroll in the Device Protection Plan.

The Technology Protection Plan is optional; it is not required, however, by electing not to participate in the Protection Plan, families may be required to reimburse the school district for the replacement or repair of damaged Chromebooks assigned to their student/s. Damaged or broken screens may cost between $50 to $150 depending on the parts needed; or the replacement cost for the entire device could be up to $410.

Families can opt-in to the Device Protection Plan by logging into A-HConnect, and selecting "My Student Information," and "Fees." Parents must select or decline coverage under the Device Protection Plan. Enrollment begins July 1, 2024.

• The plan cost is $20 per student or $60 per family per school year.

• If the student qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals in the 2024-25 school year, the cost of the Protection Plan will be reduced to $0.

• Repairs with the Protection Plan are subject to a $20 deductible.

View the Device Protection Plan flyer to learn more. (PDF)
Enroll in the device protection plan using Synergy.

All Anoka-Hennepin families are encouraged to apply for the 2024-25 school year educational benefits program. A new application must be submitted each school year.

The enrollment window for the 2024-25 school year begins Aug. 1, 2024.

Although school meals are still free, your family may still qualify for other educational benefits. If your family needs access to educational benefits available to your student, an application can be completed by visiting ahschools.us/freduced.

Anoka-Hennepin asks that all families complete an online application to provide additional school funding to support all students in the district. By filling out this application, your school can earn funding and you can save money.

Educational benefits include:

• Athletics fees: Eligible students may qualify for fees to be waived or reduced.

• SAT, ACT, and AP Fees: Students may be eligible for discounted fees for academic tests and some lab fees.

• Other high school activities: Students may qualify for discounts on speech, debate, theater, band, and others.

• Additional benefits and cost savings: Chromebook device protection, Comcast Internet Essentials discount, Amazon Prime membership discounts, discounted bus fares with Metro Transit, Xcel Energy account assistance, and discounts at museums and theaters.

Only one application is needed per household. Please contact the child nutrition department with any questions or assistance at 763-506-1240 or staff.CnpEnrollment@ahschools.us.

Free school meals program information

Every student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the 2024-25 school year. The state’s Free School Meals program will cover the cost of one breakfast meal and one lunch meal for every student daily, however, the cost of a la carte items, such as milk, other drinks, or extra meal items will not be covered. Students will need to have funds in their meal accounts to purchase any additional food items.

Resources

• Educational benefits flyer [English]

• Educational benefits flyer [Spanish]

• Educational benefits informational video

Free resources are available through Anoka County Library to support students.

• Your students can access live online tutoring, ESL support, and college and career assistance for free with a library card. Please see the flier attached.