School Rules, Procedures & Dress Code

At Hickam Elementary School, fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment is our top priority. Our school rules, procedures, and dress code are designed to ensure the well-being of all students, promote positive behavior, and facilitate effective teaching and learning. We believe that clear expectations, combined with consistent application, help our students thrive and become responsible members of our school community.

We encourage all students, families, and visitors to familiarize themselves with these important guidelines. For a comprehensive overview of all school policies, please refer to the official Hickam Elementary School Parent Handbook.

Promoting Positive Behavior: Living with HEART

Hickam Elementary School is dedicated to fostering a positive and supportive learning environment through our core HEART values. These values guide our students in making responsible choices and contributing positively to our school community:

• Honor - Living with integrity and leaving a positive legacy.

• Excellence - Establishing goals that allow us to evolve.

• Aloha - Valuing diversity through compassion in action.

• Resiliency - Adapting and overcoming challenges.

• Teamwork - Collaborating to build a better world.

We encourage all students to embody these principles in their daily interactions and learning.

Student Attendance and Absences

Consistent attendance is crucial for student success. Please help us by ensuring your child attends school regularly and on time.

• Reporting Absences: If your child is absent, please call the school at (808) 307-4600 after 7:30 a.m. A note or email is required upon your child's return to school. Doctor's notes or court documents are required for an absence to be officially excused.

• Homework Requests: If your child is absent, homework may be requested and can be picked up at the office after 2:30 p.m.

• Tardiness: If a student arrives after 8:00 a.m., a parent/guardian and the child must report to the office for a tardy slip before going to class.

• Early Dismissal: Parents/guardians must sign out students at the office for early dismissals.

Hickam Elementary School Attendance Policy

We monitor student attendance closely to ensure every child is receiving the education they deserve.

• 3 Absences: The teacher will send a message home to parents/guardians.

• 6 Absences: The school counselor will send an Attendance Letter.

• 9 Absences: School administration will send another letter and schedule a meeting with a school administrator, counselor, and Human Services Provider to discuss attendance concerns.

• 15 or more Absences: The student is considered chronically absent, and school officials may contact the School Liaison Officer, Social Worker, or Family Court for further intervention.

Vacation/Trip Policy

We encourage families to use scheduled intersessions, holidays, and school breaks for vacations. Trips taken during school days can significantly disrupt a child's learning progress.

• For trips of 10 or more consecutive school days, the student should be officially withdrawn from school and may be re-enrolled upon their return.

• Teachers are not required to provide homework or assignments for extended vacation periods.

HES Uniform & Dress Code Policy

Our uniform and dress code promote a positive and focused learning environment, minimizing distractions and fostering a sense of unity. Student uniforms can be purchased directly from Surfvivor Custom T-shirts.

Students at Hickam Elementary wear uniforms in a school-wide effort to keep our students safe and easily identified by emergency personnel in case of an emergency. The uniform policy consists of the following:

Required Uniform:

• Properly fitted black, gray, khaki, or navy walking shorts, capris, skorts, or pants.

• Hem of bottoms must be longer than the tip of the middle finger while standing with arms down.

• Hickam Elementary School T-shirts (navy blue or red) are required.

• School-issued I.D. must be visible and worn on the collar area (the first one is provided by the school; the first replacement cost will be $1.00, the second $2.00, etc.).

• Properly fitted sweatshirts and jackets can be worn over the uniform.

• Closed-toe and covered-heel shoes must be worn with socks for safety.

The following items are NOT PERMITTED unless otherwise specified:

• Cargo pocket shorts, cargo pants, athletic shorts/pants (soccer shorts, basketball shorts, yoga shorts/pants, etc.), skirts, or dresses.

• Sandals, slippers/flip-flops, individualized toe shoes, Crocs, Heelys.

• Shorts, skorts, capris, or pants with decorative rhinestones, appliques, holes, or excessively worn out bottoms.

• Jeans (blue, white, black, and colored denim).

• Headgear (scarves, caps, hats) and sunglasses not permitted in the classroom.

Uniform Waiver Policy

The DOE policy requires a provision allowing parents to request a waiver to the wearing of the uniform. Requests for waivers will be granted in cases of:

1. Financial hardship.

2. PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move within 90 days of enrollment.

3. Documented medical reasons establishing a student’s intolerance to the standard uniform.

Requests for waivers on other grounds will be reviewed by the Principal. Each waiver will be approved/disapproved on a case-by-case basis and must be renewed each year. For those students who hold a waiver, the “Hickam Dress Code” applies in its entirety.

Hickam Dress Code for Students with a Uniform Waiver

Students with an approved uniform waiver must still adhere to a respectful dress code:

• Boys: May wear T-shirts, polo shirts, or dress shirts and pants or shorts in appropriate sizes and with appropriate undergarments. No tank tops or T-shirts with offensive logos/pictures. No cargo shorts or pants.

• Girls: May wear T-shirts, polo shirts, or blouses and pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, or dresses in appropriate sizes and with appropriate undergarments. No spaghetti straps or straps less than 2 inches. No cargo shorts.

College Shirt or Theme Days

College Shirt usually occurs on the last Friday of each month. Other Dress Exceptions may fall on a different day due to a school holiday or PD/Waiver day. Students MUST adhere to the HES Dress Code stated above on these days.

Electronic Devices

To maintain a focused learning environment, personal electronic devices have specific rules:

• Cell Phones: Cell phones are strictly prohibited from use while on campus during school hours. They should be turned off and stored away.

Homework Policy

Homework is an important part of the learning process, reinforcing classroom lessons and developing independent study habits.

• Teacher Responsibilities: Teachers are responsible for providing clear directions and expectations for all homework assignments.

• Parent Responsibilities: Parents are responsible for encouraging their child to complete homework and for providing an adequate time and quiet place for homework completion.

• Student Responsibilities: Students are responsible for knowing their assignments, completing them on time, and bringing necessary materials to and from school.

Emergency Response Plan & Drills

Our school has a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan to ensure the safety of all students and staff during critical incidents. We regularly conduct drills to prepare for various emergencies.

• Parent/Caregiver Role During Emergencies:

  • Remain calm.

  • Monitor official communication channels: media outlets, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) Facebook page, and the Hickam Elementary School website for updates and official messages from Hickam Elementary School and Hawaii DOE.

  • Do not flood the school with telephone calls; phone lines must remain clear for emergency communications.

  • If the school is on lockdown, please wait until the lockdown is officially lifted before attempting to come to the school. Follow instructions from emergency personnel.

• Emergency Drills: All Hawaii DOE schools, including Hickam Elementary, conduct required drills throughout the year. These include: Lock Down, Shelter in Place, Evacuation (including fire), Earthquake, and Tsunami drills.

Student Drop-Off & Pickup Procedures

To ensure the safety of our students and smooth traffic flow, please adhere to the following procedures:

• Student Drop-Off:

  • Student drop-off begins daily at 7:40 a.m.

  • Drop-off is located on the curbside of Manzelman Circle.

  • Students should always exit the vehicle on the curbside, not the roadside, for their safety.

• Student Pickup:

  • Student pickup begins immediately after school dismissal.

  • Dismissal times: 1:10 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 2:10 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

• Rainy Day Dismissal:

  • Whenever there is a storm with thunder and/or lightning, students will be dismissed from the school's Cafeteria for safety. Please follow staff directions for pickup during these conditions.

Visitor Policy

For the safety and security of our students, all visitors to Hickam Elementary School must adhere to the following procedures:

• All visitors are required to sign in and out at the school office upon arrival and departure.

• Visitors under 18 years of age are generally not permitted on campus without an accompanying adult. Any exceptions require prior approval from a school administrator.

• If parents wish for relatives or other adults over 18 to have lunch with their child on campus, a signed consent letter from the parent must be provided to the school office in advance.

• Younger siblings accompanying a parent must also have administrative approval to be on campus during school hours.

Parking for School Visitors

To ensure smooth traffic flow and safety, please observe our parking guidelines:

• The Freedom Tower lot is primarily reserved for school staff.

• Before 8:00 AM: Visitors should park on Eighth Street and utilize the designated crosswalk on Julian Avenue to access the school.

• After 8:00 AM: Visitors may use any available stalls in the Freedom Tower lot.

Health Requirements: TB Clearance

Ensuring the health of our school community is vital. Specific Tuberculosis (TB) clearance requirements apply:

• Students: All students must have documentation of TB clearance obtained within one year prior to their first entry into any school in Hawaii.

• School/Parent Volunteers: Individuals who volunteer at the school more than 15 times a year are required to provide TB test clearance obtained within the preceding 12 months.

Student Help in the Cafeteria

To support our school operations and foster a sense of responsibility, students in certain grade levels may assist in the cafeteria:

• Students in Grades 4 through 6 may be requested to assist in the cafeteria.

• No student will be required to assist more than one full day per month or seven full days in a school year, unless specifically approved by the complex area superintendent.

For More Information

This page provides an overview of our key rules and procedures. For detailed information on all school policies, expectations, and comprehensive guidelines, please download or refer to the complete Hickam Elementary School Parent Handbook.