AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 20 Teachers planning fundraisers, parties, or other school-related events are encouraged to consider healthier alternatives. If scholars bring foods low in nutritional value to school, AF teachers and staff will hold them at the front desk until parents pick them up. Candy and Snacks Scholars may not have any candy with them at school. Teachers will confiscate any candy in scholar possession and hold it until after school. Gum is prohibited, and possession results in a Wolfpoint deduction. Designated Times for Eating Scholars may not eat food except during breakfast, lunch, and designated snack times. Each grade has a designated “snack time” that is posted in each classroom. Scholars may not take snacks out of the classroom (for example, to the bathroom). Teachers will confiscate food that scholars have out during unauthorized times, and return to scholars after class/school. Scholars with documented medical needs may work out reasonable food accommodations with the School Nurse. Classroom Parties, Birthdays, and Other Events Achievement First supports scholar’s social and emotional growth by celebrating their achievements. Most of these celebrations take the form of school-wide or grade-level events which celebrate scholar academic achievement and character growth. These include weekly celebrations and various family celebrations throughout the year. To maintain the structure and consistency of the school day as well as to preserve sacred learning time, Achievement First does not encourage celebrations of birthdays or other holidays during the school day. Families should not bring in food treats or other gift items for birthdays or holidays as the school cannot commit teacher or other staff time to distributing them and because such items can distract scholars from their learning. Families wishing to involve classmates in the celebration of their scholar’s birthday or other holidays can do so by inviting them to a party that occurs outside of school hours. The school can support such families by distributing a flyer to families in that scholar’s class. To avoid hurt feelings and distractions from learning, the school can only do this if every scholar in the class is invited. Families wishing to have such an invitation distributed should send it to school in the scholar’s homework folder. Invitations must be general (as in not addressed to specific scholars) and must be issued to all scholars in the class. In order to minimize competition and distractions from learning, scholars must be in full uniform on their birthdays and other holidays.