ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken and reported to the  office each class period. When a student is going to be absent, their parent or guardian should phone the Attendance Office at 936-6501 by 9:00 AM each day of the absence. If a parent is calling to report an absence and receives the message machine, they should give the student's full, legal name, the date, reason for absence, and their relationship to the student.
When a student is returning from an absence:
· If parent has called, go directly to Advisement.
· If parent has not called, bring a signed note to the attendance office prior to Advisement. You will receive a readmit slip to give the teacher.
Excused Absences are granted for:
· Personal illness
· Doctor or dentist appointment
· Death of immediate family member
· Religious holiday
· Prearranged Trip Contract
Unexcused Absence Absences are granted for:
· Family business
· Family illness or help at home
· Long trips not prearranged for by a Trip Contract
A Trip Contract is available for trips lasting six or more days. The attendance office must be notified of the trip at least two school days prior to the trip. The Contract must be completed and signed by the student and parent before the trip starts.
Tardies to Class: Students are responsible for being on time to class each period and being prepared with their materials. When you are detained by a staff member, you should obtain a written pass BEFORE YOU GO TO YOUR NEXT CLASS. Each teacher's behavior plan includes a plan for dealing with tardies.
Leaving School Early: If you need to leave school before the end of the school day, you must have a note from your parent stating the time and reason for leaving. Show the note to the teacher of the class you must leave and then report to the attendance office to sign out. If the note does not specify that the student is to leave on his/her own, a parent or guardian must report to the office to sign the student out.

BEGINNING AND ENDING OF SCHOOL: School starts at 8:25  AM and ends at 2:59. Refer to the school calendar for minimum and modified school days. Students should plan to arrive at school about 8:15 AM and leave by 3:05 PM. Adult supervision is not provided beyond these times.

BICYCLES: Students must park and lock bicycles in designated  bicycle parking areas. Bicycles cannot be locked to trees, lampposts, or gates. The police recommend U-shaped locks that cannot be cut. A popular brand is Kryptonite, but there are others.

 

Lock your wheels and frame together to a secure object such as the bike rack. Do not leave your bike unlocked at any time, whether it is inside a bike rack area or not. Register your bike with the police department and keep a record of its serial number. California Code requires all minors to wear a helmet when riding a bike. Be sure to obey all traffic regulations when riding to or from school. Particularly, be careful crossing through intersections and when riding in areas of high pedestrian or automobile traffic.

BUS CONDUCT: To ensure the safety of all people riding the  bus, you must obey the following rules:
· form a single line at the curb to board the bus.
· a bus pass must be presented to the driver in order to board the bus.
· remain seated and facing front at all times.
· talk quietly and behave in an orderly manner.
· eating, drinking, or chewing gum is not permitted.
· keep your head, arms, and hands to yourself and inside the bus at all times.
· throwing or tossing objects of any type inside or outside the bus is not permitted.
· do not tamper with the bus seats, window, or other equipment.
Violation of any of the above rules can result in a warning or suspension from District Bus Transportation.

CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY: Rancho is a closed campus. This means that students are not allowed to leave the campus during the school day unless their parent comes to school to check them out. This policy includes before the start of school and the lunch period. Students are not allowed to go home for lunch unless their parent picks them up from school.
This also means that non-Rancho students (i.e., high school friends, cousins, or students from other schools) are not permitted to visit the school.

DANCES: Student Council sponsors several dances during the school year. All dances are held in the Rancho multipurpose room. Parents and teachers act as chaperones. Our dances are for Rancho students only, and all school rules apply. Students who do not abide by school and dance rules may be excluded from the present or future dances, lose other privileges, or be suspended from school. Dance passes may be purchased at the beginning of the school year. For students who do not purchase a dance pass, tickets will be sold at the door. Students must have a permission slip with a phone number and parent signature in order to attend. Dances begin at 3:15 PM, end at 5:15 PM.
1. Dances are for Rancho students only.
2. Students must arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the dance and no later than 45 minutes after the start.
3. Students must enter the dance boundaries through appropriate entrances upon arrival.