About J. Albert Adams Academy Mission Statement The mission of J. Albert Adams Academy is to provide a safe, structured, and supportive environment that will foster academic achievement, social skills, self-discovery, and personal growth.  Through a collaboration of school, family and community, all students will develop positive attitudes and behaviors toward learning in order to be successful, contributing members of society. Vision Statement The vision of J. Albert Adams Academy is to provide a nurturing, supportive, and positive environment that respects and recognizes the rich diversity of both students and staff, while fostering and motivating success and self-esteem. The curriculum will be aligned with national, state, and local standards while also allowing for a flexibility that will ensure that each student will develop strong academic skills, behavioral competencies and social skills. We as a faculty dedicate ourselves to helping students identify their individual learning styles and needs.  We will establish a sense of purpose in academics by encouraging active participation in a enthusiastic learning environment.  We will hold students accountable so that they will begin to utilize strategies that are necessary for self control and will seek assistance available to them through the school and their community. A collaborative relations hip among staff, student, parents and community members will ensure or relationships will encompass a mutual sense of support and respect for one another.  Throughout the personal and professional interactions the staff will seek to be effective role models for all students by being cognizant of diversity, using effective communication skills and promoting strong leadership abilities. J. Albert Adams Academy is committed to fostering a strong relationship among school, home and the community at large by creating a flexible and adaptive academic environment that actively engages each student I the learning process, preparing each student for success in all aspects of their growth and development. School Mascot Our school mascot, a Monarch butterfly, was chosen by a student and represents positive transformation. School Motto “The Monarch Way…where change is positive, change is growth, change is expected, and change happens!” Important Information School Attendance Improved school attendance and getting to school on time are extremely important goals. Parents play an important role in developing a child’s attitude toward attending school. The following tips are helpful suggestions to parents. Show that you have a positive attitude toward school attendance. Allow your child plenty of time in the morning to get ready for school. Make every effort to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments after school hours. Refuse to write excuses for anything other than legitimate absences (More than 3 unexcused absences could result in failure of subject- YOUR CHILD MUST BRING IN A NOTE WHEN ABSENT.) Refuse to view tardiness as acceptable behavior and discourage early checkouts. If you know in advance that your child must be absent, notify the school and make sure your child understands his/her responsibility for making up missed work. Remember that children enter the building at 9:30 a.m. Please assist us in getting your children here on time. Building Security Once the school day begins all doors will be secured. Parents, visitors and volunteers will all need to enter in the Main Entrance. Please report to the office for a visitor pass before going to any classroom. All visitors, including volunteer helpers, must have a visitor pass at all times. Thank you for your cooperation. Student Uniforms Student uniforms should not be altered in any way. Students are not allowed to split the bottom of their pants or draw/paint on their pants or shirts. Any shirt worn underneath the polo shirt must be blue in color. Any belt or jewelry depicting drugs, alcohol, weapons, profanity or any other inappropriate subject matter is forbidden in school. Connect Ed As you are most likely are aware, Anne Arundel County Public Schools has begun using an automated telephone notification system called Connect-ED to increase communication between schools and parents. During the last school year, the system was used not only to notify parents of weather-related delays and closings and other emergencies, but to alert them to key events in many schools around the county. Click here for more information about Connect Ed. Lockers and Cellphones Students should leave all non-instructional items at home. Once in school, cell phones must be turned off and placed in lockers. In addition, any electronic device, coats, “hoodies”, hats, etc. must be placed in lockers. Medication Students who are required to take prescribed medication must have a parent/guardian complete an authorization form and obtain the doctor’s signature before any medication can be taken in school. NO MEDICATIONS may be taken in school unless these procedures are followed. All approved forms of medication will be kept in the health room. Medication forms are available from your physician or from the school nurse. Cough drops and headache medications MUST follow these procedures and be kept in the health room. In addition, cough drops and headache medication may not be taken without obtaining an authorization form. Over the counter medications must be received in their original container. Please mark all medications properly. For health concerns for AACPS, log onto www.aacps.org