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Superior Quality Education for All Students

Frequently Asked Questions

We know you’ll have questions, and we hope you will always feel free to ask. To help you find answers fast, we’ve put together a list of our most frequently asked questions. If we missed anything, please call our office during regular hours.


Why does Peñasco Elementary only meet four days a week?

We are located in a remote, rural area. Our school boundaries encompass a significant geographical area, and we serve students who may live in hard-to-reach locations. To best meet the needs of our community as well as reduce the time and cost associated with transportation, Peñasco Elementary adheres to a four-day school week. School is in session Monday-Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Our holiday and break schedule is determined by Artesia Public Schools District. Please visit our District Calendar page for district and local events.

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What do I need to do when my child is sick or cannot attend school for other reasons?

Regular school attendance is important to the success of your child; however, there are times when a child must be home from school due to illness or other circumstances. We require parents or guardians to notify the school office on or before each day of absence and to provide us with the reason for your child’s absence.

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What is the policy for make-up work?

In the event of an absence, make up work is the responsibility of the student. We allow one day for students to make up work for each day of school missed, not to exceed two weeks. We require that a student who misses only one day on the day of a previously-announced test or deadline date to make up the test or work on the day he/she returns to school.

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Do you serve lunch and breakfast?

We serve breakfast and lunch each day. To find out what’s for lunch, look for our weekly lunch menu sent home with your child or visit the Food Services page on the district site.

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How do I register my child to attend school at Peñasco Elementary?

We’re so happy to welcome new students! Please visit our Registration and Immunizations page on our district site for the information necessary to register your child.

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Is there a dress code at Peñasco Elementary?

While we do not require our students to wear uniforms, we have certain rules and regulations to maintain a climate conducive to the learning process. The Artesia Board of Education believes that student appearance and dress have a direct relationship to learning. We require our students to dress appropriately for school and not detract from the learning process. We’ve provided some general guidelines below:

  • Hair must be neat, clean, and well groomed.
  • We require students to wear shoes appropriate for daily activities.
  • We require shorts and skirts to reach the mid-thigh. We do not allow cutoffs, biker shorts, or spandex shorts. We require that students wear their pants in the normal position and that all underclothes be covered.
  • We require students to button blouses or shirts at all times. We do not permit see-through clothing, bare midriffs, or bare shoulders.
  • We do not permit clothing with lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene logos or that advertises gang affiliation, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages.
  • We do not allow nose rings, spiked jewelry, or studs. We do not permit students to wear or display chains and body piercings anywhere other than the ears.
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