The Rice School/La Escuela Rice
School Policies and Information

• Absences
• Bus Riders
• Cafeteria Policies
• Conferences
• Discipline
• Dress Code/Uniforms
• Lockers and Personal Property
• Supervision of Students - Drop off and Pick up
• Tardies

 

 

Absences ^

After an absence, the student will give the Attendance Clerk a written excuse from the parent stating the reason for the absence and a phone number for verification.  Absences are excused for the student’s personal illness, illness or death or an immediate family member, participation in legitimate school activities with permission of the principal, or emergency/extenuating circumstances as recognized by the principal or principal’s designee.  Absences for religious holidays are not counted against a student’s attendance record as long as parent notifies the school in writing prior to the student’s observance of a religious holiday.  Any other planned absences must have prior approval of campus administrator. The parent must turn in the excuse within three days of the absence.  Failure to provide documentation for Excused Absences may result in denial of credit based on excessive absences.

Bus Riders Agreement^

As a bus rider at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice, I agree to:

• Stay off the street while waiting for a bus.
• Approach the bus entrance only after the bus comes to a complete stop.
• Be courteous to the driver and other students
• Speak in a normal tone.
• Never tamper with the bus or its equipment
• Sit in my assigned seat daily.
• Stay in your seat when the bus is in motion.
• Keep all parts of my body as well as all objects inside the bus.
• Never engage in horseplay or fighting on the bus.
• Keep the bus litter free.  No food or beverages are to be consumed on the bus.
• Never try to cross the street behind a bus.
• Never ride another bus without prior approval.
• Always be at my stop on time.
• Wait respectfully and responsibly at the bus stop – both morning and afternoon.
• Be respectful to all members on bus duty and go to directly to my bus after school.

We hope it never happens, but it is sometimes necessary to take disciplinary action when a rider fails to observe ordinary rules of courtesy and these simple instructions.  The following disciplinary actions are from  HISD’s Administrative Procedures,  318.320.

The principal and assistant principals at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice will use the following steps:

1. *First Offense: Give student warning.  Inform parents in writing or by telephone that their child is not cooperating.
   
2. *Second Offense: A two to three day suspension from riding the bus.
   
3. *Third Offense: A five to seven day suspension from riding the bus.
   
4. *Fourth Offense: Exclusion from riding the bus.

*  If the incident reported is of a severe nature, stronger disciplinary action is justified.

Cafeteria Policies^

Students may choose to purchase a lunch or bring a lunch and eat in the dining room.  All other areas are off-limits during lunch.  Your assigned lunch period is an opportunity to enjoy being with your friends and enjoy a well-prepared lunch from the cafeteria, sack lunch from home or for middle school students, food from the snack bar.  The following guidelines will assist all students in making lunchtime a more enjoyable experience.

• Arrive on time or early to lunch. (Being late to lunch without a permit is being tardy).
• Purchase all food items desired from line or snack bar before entering the seating area of the cafeteria.
• Student should go immediately to a chosen seat and once there, must remain seated until lunch is completed.  If you need to leave your seat, you must get permission from one of the adults on duty.
• Upon completion of lunch, dispose of all trash in trash cans and place soda cans in recycling bin.  Return to the same seat and remain there until dismissed from the cafeteria.
• At the five minute signal clean your eating area (table and floor) while one volunteer wipes the table with a cloth.
• When dismissed from the cafeteria, elementary students WALK to assigned line-up area and middle school students may exit to the outside area for recreation.  Remember to BE COURTEOUS.  Keep the noise level at a whisper.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS – Enjoying the outdoors with your friends at lunch is a group privilege shared by all students assigned to your lunch period.  The guidelines and consequences for cafeteria dining are relevant outside too.  As a consequence of inappropriate behavior outside, the staff monitor can assign individuals to ISS and/or choose to close outside off to all students in that lunch period.  Outside recreation is privilege which carries group responsibility; responsibility that goes beyond your personal space.  Encourage other students to behave responsibly so this privilege may continue.  Encourage others to dispose of their trash responsibly.  Do not complain about cleaning up “unidentified trash” and/or trash that may appear in your area.

Conferences^

Arrangements can be made for parent conferences with individual teachers, academic teams, counselors, and/or administrators.  These meetings must be prearranged and cannot be guaranteed on a drop-in basis. All employees at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice have voice mail and e-mail access.  All visitors to the building must report immediately to the main office for a visitor’s pass.  See the section “WHO CAN BEST HELP YOU” for specific contact persons.

Discipline^

Houston ISD Student Code of Conduct is our framework for campus discipline.  For behaviors/infractions which are addressed through classroom management and administrative interventions, the following identifies possible consequences for inappropriate behavior.

• Classroom disciplinary consequences - to be provided to parents by classroom teacher or Team Leader.
• Office interventions:
• Loss of Privilege (including recess, field trips, school dances, assemblies and other extra curricular activities)
• After school Detention Hall or Saturday Detention
• In School Suspension (ISS)
• Suspension (as per HISD Student Code of Conduct)
• Expulsion (as per HISD Student Code of Conduct)

Dress Code ^
Uniform and Apparel Policy 2008-2009

Uniform Sales Information Here

The uniform has been adopted in accordance with the guiding tenets and Honor Code of The Rice School/La Escuela Rice. The guidelines below cover the major aspects of our uniform policy. Students will be dressed in the official uniform every day during school hours. Students are expected to be neatly dressed and groomed at all times. The official uniform consists of the following components:
Personal appearance

• Extreme hairstyles such as Mohawks, unnatural hair color are not permitted. Ball caps or headwraps will not be allowed.
• Excessive jewelry is not allowed, with exception of religious items. All chains must be worn inside shirts.

SHIRTS

• Students must wear the official Rice School Uniform Shirts. Red, white or blue with The Rice School emblem. Shirts must be purchased from The Rice School PTO
• Shirts where the Rice school Logo has been altered or compromised will not be permitted.
• Students will not be permitted to wear plain shirts without the Rice School emblem
• During cold weather students are allowed to wear long sleeve shirts under their Rice School Logo Shirt. Those undershirts must match the uniform shirt (ie; navy uniform shirt and navy under shirt) and be solid red, white or navy blue color. Shirts of other colors or with graphic designs will not be permitted.

SHORTS, PANTS, CAPRIS and SKIRTS

• Students must wear bottoms in the appropriate uniform khaki color and style.
• The following styles/colors are not acceptable: Beige, Cream, Off-White, Denim, Bell-bottoms, Cargo-style, corduroy, embellishments on clothing or excessively baggy uniform pants will not be permitted.
• Straight leg style pants should be cuffed or straight hemmed and will not touch the floor.
• Pants must be proportioned to fit at the waist without having to use a belt.
• Khaki skirts will be straight or pleated with the hemline falling just above the knee or mid-calf.
• Ankle length skirts will not be permitted.
• Pants, shorts or skirts that are modified in any way after purchase will not be permitted.
• Leggings are not permitted to be worn under skirts, skorts, or shorts.
• Belts being worn with pants and shorts must be a solid red, white, navy blue, brown or black.

P. E. UNIFORM

• Students must wear the official PE Uniform during their physical education class.
• The PE uniform is to be worn only during PE class.
• During cold weather, students may wear sweatpants and the uniform sweatshirt with permission from the teacher.

COATS AND OUTER GARMENTS

• Rice School Uniform sweatshirts/windbreakers/sweaters can be worn in building.
• Solid red, white or navy blue sweatshirts/ windbreakers/ sweaters with no logos or graphic designs on them will be acceptable to wear in the building/classrooms.
• All other coats, jackets and sweaters may be worn into the building on cold days but must be placed in the student’s locker immediately upon arrival.

SHOES

• Tennis shoes and loafers are acceptable shoes to wear.
• Boots, Heeleys, Crocs, Dress shoes (ballerina type shoes or with high heels), sandals, thongs, open-back, and open-toe shoes are not acceptable. This is a safety issue that must be adhered to when purchasing school shoes.
• Socks or tights in solid red, white or navy blue color must be worn. Tights with graphic designs or of other colors are not permitted

Failure to comply with the uniform dress code will result in after school detention for each offense. Continued refusal to abide by the uniform contract may result in ISS, suspension, and/or transfer non-renewal.
The Rice School\La Escuela Rice
Reglas de Uniforme y Vestuario 2008-2009
El uniforme ha sido adoptado de acuerdo con los principios indicados y por el Código de Honor de La Escuela Rice. Las pautas debajo cubren los aspectos mayores de nuestra política. Los estudiantes serán vestidos en el uniforme oficial todos los días durante horas de escuela. Los estudiantes deben estar vestidos de acuerdo a las reglas de uniforme. El uniforme oficial consiste de lo siguientes:
APARENCIA PERSONAL
• Estilos, penados, cortes, o color de cabello no natural no serán permitidos. Gorras no serán permitidas.  
• Joyería en exceso no serán permitida, con la excepción de prendas religiosas. Collares deben ser colocados
   adentro de la camisa.
CAMISAS
• Los estudiantes deben usar las camisas del uniforme oficial de La Escuela Rice. Deben usar las camisas
   rojas, blanco o azul marino con el logo de La Escuela Rice.
• Camisas donde el logo tipo han sido alterado no serán permitidas. Las camisas deben ser compradas del  
   PTO de La Escuela Rice.
• Estudiantes no serán permitidos llevar camisas sencillas sin el logo tipo de La Escuela Rice.
• Durante el tiempo de frio los estudiantes serán permitidos usar camisas de manga larga abajo de su camisa
  de uniforme. Esas camisas deben ser del miso color de la camisa del uniforme (camisa de uniforme azul con
  camisa de manga larga azul). Las camisas que usen abajo del uniforme deberán ser sin dibujos, logo tipos y
  de un solo color. 
LOS PANTALONES y FALDAS  
• Los pantalones y faldas de color caqui de uniforme y estilo apropiado serán aceptados.
• Los estilos/colores siguientes no son aceptables: El beige, Crema, Blanquecino, Blanco claro, pantalones de
   campana, pana, estilo cargo, pantalones adornados o pantalones que son excesivamente flojos.
• Los pantalones serán de estilo recto, con un dobladillo y que no toquen el piso.
• Pantalones deben quedar en la cintura sin tener que utilizar un cinturón. 
• Las faldas de uniforme serán plisadas o sencillas y que topen encima de la rodilla o medio de la pantorrilla.
• Las faldas largas que topan el tobillo no serán permitidas.
• Pantalones, pantalones cortos o faldas que han sido modificadas en alguna manera después de comprarlos
   no serán permitidos.
• Pantalones de lycra no serán permitidos usar debajo de faldas, skorts, o los pantalones cortos.
• Los Cinturones deben ser de un color sólido ya sea rojo, blanco, azul marino, café o negro.
El UNIFORME DE EDUCACION FISICA
• Estudiantes deben usar el uniforme oficial de PE durante la clase educación física.
• El uniforme de PE debe ser usado durante clase de PE solamente.
• Durante el tiempo de frío, los estudiantes pueden usar pants y uniforme sudaderas de uniforme con
  el permiso del maestro.
ABRIGOS Y PRENDAS 
• Los abrigos/suéteres/sudaderas y chaquetas con el logo de la escuela Rice podrán ser usadas adentro del
  edificio o salones.
• Abrigos/suéteres/sudaderas y chaquetas sencillas de un color solido ya sea rojo, blanco o azulé marino
  sin logo tipos o sin diseños serán aceptables para usar durante el día en le edificio o salones.
• Cualquier otro tipo de abrigo, chaquetas o suéteres pueden ser usado en el edificio en días fríos pero deben
   ser colocados en el armario del estudiante inmediatamente llegando al salón.
ZAPATOS
• Tenis y gandules son zapatos aceptables de llevar.
• Botas, Heelys, zapatos de vestir (estilo bailarina o con tacón), sandalias, chanclas, y zapatos abiertos no
  será permitidos. Esto es por la seguridad de los alumnos, por favor siga las reglas al comprar zapatos de escuela.
• Calcetines o mallas deben ser de un color sólido ya sea rojo, blanco o azul marino. Calcetines o
   mallas con diseños o de otros colores no son permitidos.

Falta de seguir las reglas de uniforme resultara en detención después de escuela por cada ofensa. La continua repetición de no seguir las reglas de uniforme resultara en ISS, suspensión, o no-renovación de  transferencia.

Lockers and Personal Property ^

Lockers (Middle School students)

Student lockers are assigned by homeroom teachers and are to be used for storing school supplies. Physical education teachers will assign a gym locker.  Students will need two, good quality locks; one for the regular locker and one for the physical education locker.

NEVER BRING VALUABLES TO SCHOOLS.

ALWAYS MAKE CERTAIN YOUR LOCKER IS LOCKED.

DO NOT SHARE YOUR LOCKER WITH ANY OTHER STUDENTS (Students are responsible for ALL content in their assigned lockers).

Personal Property

CD players/radios, cameras, Ipods, large sums of money, and other personal property are not to be brought to school.  Many problems can arise and the school cannot assume responsibility for them.  If such personal property is brought to school, it will be taken and held in the principal’s office for the parent to pick up.  Although students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, use of cell phones that disrupt the educational process will result in appropriate disciplinary action and confiscation of the cell phone (with a $15 processing fee) until the end of the school year.

Campus Supervision - Drop off and Pickup ^

Assigned staff supervises the arrival of students and the timely dispersal of students at dismissal.  Teachers have the authority and are directed by their administrator to correct any student at any time on The Rice School/La Escuela Rice campus. 

Students are not supervised before 7:15 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m.  Parents must make arrangements not to have their children on campus before 7:15 or after 3:30.  For the safety and security of The Rice School/La Escuela Rice students, staff and school property, strict regulations are enforced.  Students on campus or inside the building before or after school hours without permission from a teacher or activity sponsor will be subject to disciplinary action.

Tardy and Lateness Policy ^

Consequences For Arriving Late To Classes

Students who are tardy to class will receive after school detention for each offense.  Failure to attend after school detention will result in assignment to Saturday Detention or ISS.  Habitual tardiness could result in denial of transfer.

Consequences For Arriving Late To School

• If a student arrives after 8:00 a.m., he/she must sign in at the attendance window
• First Tardy to school - Note to discipline record
• Second Tardy - Note to discipline record.  Parent called and advised that next Tardy will result in after-school detention.
• Third Tardy - Note to discipline record.  Parent called.  Student assigned after school detention.
• Subsequent Tardies - Continued assignment to after school detention.  Habitual tardiness to school could result in denial of transfer.