Handbooks

On behalf of the Sterling Elementary School staff, I am happy to welcome you to the 2025-2026 school year! We are looking forward to a home-school partnership that will ensure our children achieve their highest potential.
           
We invite you to be involved in school activities and opportunities to volunteer in the classroom.  Please remember that in order to volunteer in any capacity, you must first complete a background check through:
https://appgarden5.app-garden.com/VolTrackUT30.nsf 

A few of those opportunities include:
Teacher-led instructional support, usually in the classroom
PTA membership and participation
School-wide events ( Field Day, Field trips, Class Parties)
Student recognition events
Community Council participation
Room Parents
“Dudes-giving”

The Sterling Elementary School staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you.
 
Sincerely,
Kenna Aagard
Principal
Michelle Fausett
Assistant Principal
 

Students should arrive at school between 8:35-8:45 a.m.  If your child is eating breakfast at school, he/she needs to arrive at 8:30 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 8:50 a.m.  Office hours are 8:30-4:00 p.m.

Homelessness is a lack of permanent housing.  Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students who live in a shelter, car, hotel, motel, campground, or temporary residency qualify as homeless youth.  A homeless child or youth: 1.  Shall continue in their school or origin for the duration of homelessness or for the remainder of the school year.  2. Immediately enroll, even if your student cannot produce the records required to enroll. 3. Are eligible for free lunch and fee waiver, and 4. Transportation to the school of origin will be considered/provided at the parent's request.

All applications for free and reduced meals are done online during the registration process. All information is kept confidential and for child nutrition use only.  If you have not filled one out, please contact the office. They can assist you in accessing the online forms.  Many federal aid programs to schools are based on free lunch counts at each school.  In order to help our school receive these funds, we ask that you complete the online form.
                                              Child        Adult
Cost:          Breakfast            $2.00        $2.50
                   Lunch                $3.25        $3.45

135 South Seventh Street
Tooele, UT  84074
Student Routing Plans to and from school: 
            Parents, please walk with your students to establish your route to and from school.  Students attending Sterling Elementary School are encouraged to only walk along established routes to and from school.  Students should use sidewalks whenever possible and cross only at intersections and crosswalks.  If students walk to school along a street without a sidewalk, students should walk on the right-hand side of the road.  Students should, under no conditions, play on or near streets.  In general, we would ask students to use the following streets to walk along until they come to their feeder streets.
Students West of Sterling Elementary and North of Second South.  Use major East/West streets such as; Utah Avenue, Vine Street, Highland Drive, 1st South, to 7th Street.  Follow 7th Street to the crosswalk in front of the school.
Students South of 2nd South.  Use major feeder streets, such as Skyline Drive, Upland Drive, and Broadway, to 7th Street.  Follow 7th Street to the crosswalk in front of the school.
Students who live East of Seventh Street.  Use the nearest feeder streets on to Vine Street, and use Vine Street to 7th Street.  Follow the sidewalk to school, or use the back walking entrance.
Deer Hollow Subdivision.  Funnel down 430 South or 800 East of Upland Drive.  Follow Upland Drive to the west side of 7th Street and down 7th Street to the school crosswalk.
Elk Ridge Subdivision.  Funnel to Droubay, then to Upland Drive.  Follow Upland Drive to 7th Street and down the west side of 7th Street to the school crosswalk.
Loma Vista Subdivision.  Follow Upland Drive to the west side of 7th Street and down 7th Street to the school crosswalk.
Students who live North of Smelter Road and south of Valley View Drive.  Use feeder streets to 7th Street. Cross at 7th and 400 with a crossing guard.  Follow 7th Street to the school. 
Students West of 7th and North of 400 South.  Use major feeder streets to 400 South.  Proceed east to 7th Street, and use the crossing guard at 7th and 400 South.  Use 7th Street to the school. 
Students south of 400 East.  Use feeder streets to Vine Street.  Proceed East to 7th Street.  Use 7th Street to the school. 
Students living west of 7th Street and south of Vine Street.  Use major east/west streets such as 100 South, 200 South, Vine Street, and Highland Drive, go towards 7th Street.  Use 7th Street to the school. 
The Bus Circle Drive to the north of the school.  This is ONLY for school bus drop-offs.
 

Attendance has a direct impact on a student’s level of academic achievement. School attendance is a student/parent/school responsibility. Regular school attendance is very important to maintain continuity in the educational process.
The administration and staff of Sterling Elementary School believe that students need to be in class on time, ready to learn, every school day. We expect our students at Sterling Elementary School to take advantage of the educational opportunities offered to them. If your child will be absent, please contact the school office by 8:50 a.m. and report the excused absence. 
If your child accrues an excessive number of unexcused absences/tardies, you will receive an official letter and a request to meet with the school administration to determine a plan of action. 

If students must go home during the school day (Excused Absence), parents are required to come into the office to sign their student out. 
Any student leaving school must sign out through the office. This policy helps ensure additional safety for all students and parents. 
Students can only be picked up and checked out by their parents or legal guardian. The only other people who can check out a student are those listed by the parent on the school’s “emergency release form” that is kept on file in the school office. Please make sure the information listed is accurate and up-to-date. 
If your child becomes ill or is injured while at school, we can only call you if you have provided us with updated information. 

Punctuality is an essential life skill. Teachers work hard to plan and deliver lessons to their students. When students are tardy, they miss valuable instructional time. Most of the time, tardies can be avoided with attention to detail and a willingness to be conscientious of being where one is supposed to be when one is supposed to be there. Create a morning plan and routine as a family or ask a staff member to assist you.

 Student “guests” are prohibited from visiting or attending classes during the regular school day. This results in additional work and responsibility for our teachers, often distracting students from the educational process. This has also been identified as a potential safety issue in our school. Jr. High and High School students are not allowed on the Sterling Elementary School campus during the regular school day without permission from the administration. 
If you are interested in volunteering in your child’s classroom, please see the above link and information regarding background checks and approval. 

Parents, please make sure you are aware of the following safety information printed below. Read and study the material and then share this information with your children: 
1. All students, parents, and staff members should follow the directions of the school crossing guard at all times. 
2.  Parents and Students should use marked crosswalks.
3.  Student drop-off is allowed in the morning in the half-circle at the front of the school, but please remember that this is a drop-and-go traffic flow. Because this is also a fire lane, waiting and parking are not allowed at any time of day. 
4. Pick-up at the end of the school day is allowed in the front half-circle of our building or from any parking lot adjacent to the building.  Please be courteous, mindful, and watchful of students, supervising staff, and each other. 
5. Do not drive into, drop off, or pick up students in the School Bus Zone located on the north side of the building. 
6. Please comply with all speed limits, traffic signs, and handicapped access designations. This will help make all students as safe as possible and allow patrons a more pleasant travel experience. 
7. All bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, etc., must be walked on school property. This property must be placed in the bike rack and secured with a lock during the school day. No riding, boarding, blading, wheeling, etc… is allowed on school property at any time. Do not plan to store scooters, skateboards, etc. in the classroom during the day, as there is not sufficient space to accommodate this. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT OF OUR SAFETY GUIDELINES!!! 
We appreciate all you do to ensure the safety of our students at Sterling Elementary School.

 A. Purpose and Philosophy.
Tooele County School District (TCSD) is committed to providing a safe, wholesome, orderly, and positive environment conducive to teaching and learning for all students.  The TCSD Board of Education recognizes that dress and grooming seriously affect the behavior of students attending school and may also impact sanitation, health, and safety conditions. TCSD also recognizes the need for balance between freedom of individual expression and the right to a quality education for all that is free of disruption.
Students shall dress in a manner suitable to the day’s activities consistent with health, safety, and acceptable behavior standards.  The student dress and grooming standards shall apply to all schools in the district and to both male and female students.  The dress code also applies to students whether attending school or any school sponsored function or activity (as a participant or member of the audience).
School administrators, faculty and staff are responsible for communication and enforcement of this policy and student dress and grooming standards, as well as, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, in addition to, legal precedence and board policy.  Involvement of stakeholders (i.e. PTA, Community Council, staff, students) in the management of schools is encouraged and can result in expanded thinking, increased ownership, satisfaction, and improved instructional programs and outcomes.  Interpretation of the dress and grooming standards will be under the primary responsibility and discretion of school administrators.  However, all district and school staff members shall have a share of responsibility in seeing that these standards are implemented and enforced fairly and consistently in classrooms, in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, at school activities, and other school sponsored events.  The building principal has the final discretion to implement this policy fairly and consistently (regardless of student gender identification, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc.). Violations of this student dress code may result in reasonable disciplinary action according to District policy (TCSD Policy 5400)

B.  Student Dress and Grooming Standards
Students’ clothing and jewelry must not present a health or safety hazard or distraction which would disrupt the educational process or mission.  Disruption is defined as reactions by other individuals to the clothing or adornment that cause the teacher/administrator to lose students' attention, modify or cease instructional activities, or deal with student confrontations or complaints.
Items that disrupt the educational mission shall not be allowed.  Personal items such as clothing, paraphernalia, jewelry, backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignias, which are crude, vulgar, profane, violent, or sexually suggestive, or promote illegal/criminal activity.
Items which display advertising, promotions and likeness of tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol, gang activity or affiliation or drugs or which are contrary to the educational mission, shall not be allowed.
All students shall maintain their hair, mustaches, sideburns, and beards in a clean manner.  Hair styles which disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school shall not be allowed.  Hair coloring is not prohibited; rather it should not detract from the purpose of 1) maintaining a safe school environment, and 2) prohibiting dress and grooming that causes actual disruptions to the learning environment or process.
Clothing, jewelry, accessories and piercings which are so conspicuous, extreme, or odd that they draw undue attention, disrupt or tend to disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school shall not be allowed. Sunglasses may not be worn indoors at school.
All students shall wear clean clothing.  Students shall not wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, overly distressed or “grungy/grubbies”, or immodest.  No shorts or skirts above mid-thigh are permitted unless leggings are worn.  Such leggings may not be see-through.
Clothing must sufficiently cover undergarments at all times (i.e. sagging pants that reveal underwear, tops that reveal bra straps, etc.).   Short shorts, mini-skirts, bare midriffs, halter tops, tube tops, strapless shirts/tops, muscle shirts with enlarged holes, or similar revealing clothing is not permitted.  Clothing must cover the midriff, underwear, and cleavage at all times (even when seated).  This includes clothing that has holes above mid-thigh.  School activity uniforms (i.e. singlets, spanks, cheer skirts, leotards, etc.) that do not meet these criteria are not appropriate for the school day and may only be worn during the approved activity.  Such uniforms may be worn at school under team warm-ups or sweats.
Belts are to be worn at the waist and at correct length (i.e. not excessively long and hanging).  Chains or other large metal accessories, which can present a safety risk, are not allowed.
Students shall comply with the laws that govern wearing of military uniforms and insignias.
Hats or head coverings, including hoodies, are permitted as long as they do not disrupt the learning environment or make it difficult or impossible to identify students.
Immodest or suggestive clothing; apparel advocating illegal or inappropriate or offensive behavior or language; gang or gang–related apparel or symbols are strictly prohibited.
Tattoos and piercings are not specifically prohibited; rather, the policy is established around 1) maintaining a safe school environment, and 2) prohibiting dress and grooming that causes actual disruptions to the learning environment or process.
School officials may require or approve students to wear certain types of clothing for health or safety reasons in connection with certain specialized activities (i.e. welding gloves or jackets, helmets, safety glasses, etc.).
Shoes or sandals shall be worn at all times to ensure personal safety and hygiene.  Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for weather and wear reasonable footwear for the activity and season.
Reasonable accommodations may be made for students whose religious beliefs are substantially affected by dress code requirements.
Students who violate dress and grooming standards will be subject to student discipline.  Due process procedures will be followed in the case of any dress and grooming code violations.  Schools may have acceptable clothing to loan to students who have violated the provisions of this policy.  An offending student may be sent home until he or she reasonably complies with appropriate dress and grooming standards and/or a parent conference conducted to address the dress and grooming issues.
 

Theft is a crime and will not be tolerated. Sterling Elementary School students are expected to respect each other’s personal property and school property, materials, and equipment.  Any incidence of theft will result in immediate parental notification, school action, and restitution. Also, depending on the seriousness of the offense, local law enforcement agencies will become involved if deemed appropriate by the school administration. 

 Students are expected to take pride and ownership in our buildings, grounds, equipment, and facilities at Sterling Elementary School. Students who willfully destroy school property through vandalism, littering, or carelessness will obligate their parents to be financially responsible for the repair and/or replacement of the damaged property. School administration may elect to have the student complete community service hours through the school as part of their restitution. If deemed necessary, local law enforcement agencies will be involved. 

School authorities are responsible for promoting safe and effective school operations and are charged with protecting the health and safety of all students and staff. 
The following search and seizure guidelines are provided to ensure the welfare of all: 
1. Students shall be free from searches unless there is reasonable suspicion to believe that they are concealing something that may be of immediate danger to themselves or the rest of the school community. School officials may request students to remove all items from their pockets and/or other personal property, including backpack inspection. Parents will be notified if their child’s items were searched.
2. Desks and all other student storage facilities remain the property of the school and are legally subject to inspection and search at any time. If a school official reasonably suspects that a particular desk or area may contain items that are considered to be dangerous, prohibited, or stolen, it is subject to search at the discretion of the school administration. This is in accordance with the policies, rules, and regulations of the Tooele County School District. 
3. Desks are not designed for the storage of money or other valuables. Students are responsible for the desk assigned to them and for their own personal property. Valuable property should not be brought to school. Students who store valuables in their desks do so at their own risk. The school is not responsible for items that are lost or stolen. 

Under Utah Law, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor if he/she enters or remains on school property without authorization when notice against such entry or remaining has been given personally by a school official, or by signs posted to prevent trespassers, or by current order of suspension or expulsion (SS 53A-3-503). Adults and students without lawful business on school premises will be instructed to leave by school officials. In the event that adults or students violate trespass laws or do not comply with the direct order of school officials to vacate, appropriate law enforcement officials will be contacted as necessary. 

The faculty, staff, and student body should not have to be exposed to or expected to endure obscenity, pornography, profanity, or vulgarity.  
Any and all forms of abusive language, obscene gestures, and immoral or indecent acts (whether verbally, in pictures, or in writing) are deemed inappropriate within the school environment and are expressly prohibited. Racially charged vulgarity will result in appropriate consequences and parent contact.

This legislative bill requires local school boards and districts to provide period products such as tampons, sanitary napkins, or similar products designed for hygiene in all female or unisex elementary, junior high, and high school restrooms. No-cost dispensaries have been installed, and products have been stocked in the appropriate restrooms throughout the school.

Computers, internet, and other technological equipment are used at Sterling Elementary School to facilitate the educational process. Hardware and Software is to be used in accordance with the “Use Agreement” information provided and signed at registration.  Students who violate said technology agreement will lose their technology privileges at Sterling Elementary School. The cost of repairing, restoring, or replacing hardware, software, or data due to willful damage will be an obligation of said student and their parents/guardians. 

Students are discouraged from using the school telephone except in emergency situations. Students must have a pass from their teacher in order to use the phone during the school day. Should parents or students have an emergency, please contact the office staff. 

Tooele County School District recognizes that technology can enhance teaching and learning, along with the sense of security that cell phones and smart watches provide, and we are dedicated to ensuring their safe and civil use. To prevent miscommunications, provide a safe environment, and minimize distractions, TCSD has created the following procedures for all Elementary schools and students for personal devices.
 Cell phones and/or smart watches may be brought to school with parents’ permission but must be turned off and stored in backpacks during school hours. If the student does not have a backpack, a temporary bag will be provided to store the cell phone/watch. Cell phones or smart watches are not to be used by students during school hours or on school grounds including recess to call or text out. The office phone is available for students when necessary and with permission during the school day. TCSD cannot assume any responsibility for personal devices.  (Please see TCSD policy 5031 and Cell phone policy passed in 2024 school year.)

 Procedures -
If students do not comply with the cell phone or smartwatch rules, the consequences may be the following:
·         1st infraction: Verbal warning
·         2nd infraction: Cell phone/watch held at the office and the student can pick it up at the end of the day.
·         3rd infraction: Cell phone/watch held at the office until a parent picks it up. An infraction is documented in the Educators Handbook.
 Additional consequences will be implemented if students continue to not comply with cell phone/smartwatch rules. Students will be required to turn in their devices to the office at the start of each day.
 Exceptions may be made for students with a health care plan (such as students with a continuous glucose monitor), IEP, or 504. This will be approved on a case-by-case basis by meeting with the principal, teacher, and case manager. 
 

Teachers and staff members deserve to be treated with respect. Students should address them in the accepted manner of Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss during school hours. First names and nicknames should not be used by students when addressing school personnel. 

We appreciate the fact that most children are willing to share, but bringing toys to school creates distractions. Toys, electronic games/devices, laser pointers, etc…ARE PROHIBITED. If brought, they will be confiscated and returned only to a parent. Should students repeat this behavior, the item will be returned to a parent at the end of the school year. Any item brought for Show-and-Tell, as approved by the classroom teacher, should be checked-in with the classroom teacher immediately upon arrival at school. Sensory and Occupational Therapy items must be approved via 504 Plan, IEP, or school administration.

Sterling Elementary School will have a bin to store items that are found on our campus. Items not claimed from the lost and found bin will be donated to a charitable organization in our community. Please put your children’s names on all backpacks, coats, jackets, gloves, hats, lunch boxes, etc.… This will help us identify items and return them to their proper owners. 

No one should go to a teacher’s room without first making an appointment.  During the course of the school year, you may wish to confer with one of the teachers or visit a classroom. Parents are required to make an appointment in advance. A teacher’s primary responsibility is to effectively and explicitly provide instruction. Parents visiting the school must have a PASS from the office. We also ask that parents respect teachers' personal time outside of school and discourage calling teachers at home.

A great deal of thought, discussion, and evaluation is given to placing each of our students in the appropriate class. We work very hard to establish balanced, fair, and equitable classes for both students and teachers. We appreciate your understanding and support in working with your child, the teacher, and the administration to make each child’s placement successful and rewarding. 

All fundraising activities must be pre-approved by the administration. This includes any student, parent, teacher, staff, or PTA activity occurring on school property. A completed fundraising form must be submitted and approved prior to the beginning of the activity. Sterling Elementary School, according to Tooele County School District policy, may have no more than two school-sponsored fundraising activities in our community during a given school year. All funds received, regardless of the source, should be deposited directly with the school financial secretary. All expenditures of monies must also be conducted through the school financial secretary. No Door-to-Door selling is allowed with fundraisers. 

Tooele County School District affirms that every student is a person of value and is committed to helping each student reach his/her potential. In order to be successful in teaching basic academic skills, we must also teach basic behavior skills. Students who develop appropriate behavior skills will be better prepared to learn and achieve academically. Discipline is about changing unacceptable behavior to acceptable behavior. 
As a staff, we believe that discipline should be directed toward correcting and improving individual and group behaviors and toward creating and maintaining a positive atmosphere conducive to learning, order, safety, and personal growth. 
Teachers have the right to teach; students have the right to learn. Each of us must strive to make this a reality to ensure an orderly educational environment. As students and citizens of Sterling Elementary School, we have the responsibility to see that school rules, procedures, and expectations are followed. 
Most discipline infractions will be handled between the student and classroom teacher. Parents will be contacted if the problem becomes a deterrent to learning in the classroom. In the event of a serious or continuous infraction, the student will be referred to the school administration for intervention and/or consequential action. 

Any immunization record provided by a licensed physician, registered nurse, or public health official may be accepted by the school official as a certificate of immunization if the type of immunization given, and the dates given are specified, and the information is transferred to an official certificate for immunization and verified by the district in which the school is located. Parents and guardians whose children are lacking necessary immunizations will be notified. Students whose immunizations are not in accordance with state law may be allowed to attend school under conditional enrollment. Parents and guardians whose students are prohibited from school attendance for failure to comply with immunization requirements will be referred to the appropriate agency for medical neglect. 

Students will be instructed on the basic rules and procedures for handling emergencies. Drills are conducted throughout the year to assist with responding to crises i.e..… Intruders, Weapons, Fire, Gas Leaks, Severe Storms, Earthquakes, Bomb Threats, In-Place Sheltering, etc.… 
If you feel your student does not know how to respond to these crises while at school, please notify your classroom teacher or principal. In the event, we should evacuate the school and relocate to another place, our reunification sites are:
St. Marguerite’s Catholic School: 15 S 7th St, Tooele, UT 84074
Tooele High School: 301 W. Vine St., Tooele, UT 84074

Should we need to relocate students, you will be notified of their location via the district's automated call-out system.  It is imperative that we have the correct contact number so we can contact you.