RANCHO VISION AND ETHICAL VALUES: As young adults enroot to a lifetime of truly meaningful work, our students will be intellectually reflective people capable of using their minds well and who know how to think and communicate effectively. Our students will be good citizens who are caring and ethical individuals. Students will demonstrate our eight ethical values of honesty, responsibility, compassion, perseverance, respectfulness, cooperation, civic duty, and courage.

SCHOOL-WIDE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
(RANCHO R.U.L.E.S.):  In order to insure all students the excellent learning climate they deserve, the following school-wide behavior plan will be used. This plan was developed by our staff. Teachers may modify the plan to suit their particular classroom situations.

Our Philosophy: We believe all students can behave appropriately. We will not tolerate any student interfering with the learning in the classroom or creating an unsafe situation. Individual teachers will introduce students to their classroom expectations and provide these written expectations on Back to School Night for parents. 

Office Referrals: Students may be referred to the office for the following behavior problems:
· Continuous classroom disruption.
· Creating an unsafe learning environment.
· Open defiance, disrespect, insubordination.
· Class cuts, truancy, or excessive tardies.
· Fights, threatening behavior, or intimidation.
· Profanity or vulgarity
· Possession of illegal or harmful items.
· Theft or knowingly receiving stolen items.
A referral to the office may result in one or more of the following actions:
· Parent involvement
· Detention
· Performance of school service
· Loss of privileges
· Referral to counselor
· Schedule change
· Parent escorts student to class
· Referral to local police
· Transfer to another school
· Suspension or expulsion

SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION: The Irvine Unified School District enforces a ZERO TOLERANCE policy. This means that students found to be in possession of any firearm (including replicas), brandishing a knife, or involved in the sale of a controlled substance will be immediately suspended and expelled from the district.

 The following acts occurring to or from school, at school, or at a school activity may lead to suspension and/or expulsion:
· Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.
· Possessed, sold or furnished a knife, explosive, or dangerous weapon and/or imitations.
· Possessed, used, sold, furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant.
· Possessed, offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell drug paraphernalia.
· Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.
· Caused or attempted to cause damage to school or private property.
· Stolen or attempted to steal school or private property.
· Knowingly received stolen school or private property.
· Possessed or used tobacco or tobacco products.
· Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
· Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the authority of school personnel.
· Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a student who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding.
· Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault, or committed a sexual battery.
· Possession of an electronic signaling device (beeper, pager, cell phone).
· Under no circumstances are alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, knives, guns, replica guns, or other weapons permitted on campus. Students in possession of the above items will be suspended and/or expelled from the school.


SCHOOL COLORS AND MASCOT: Rancho's school colors are royal blue and gold. The mascot is the Conquistador.



SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a learning environment free from harassment, intimidation or insult, student-to-student or adult-to-student, on the basis of an individual’s sex. Positive action will be taken when necessary to eliminate such practices or remedy their effects. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT: Through active participation in student government each student can make a worthwhile contribution and at the same time gain experience in the understanding of the democratic process. Our student council consists of those officers elected by the 7th and 8th grade student body and a representative from each advisement. There is an advisor for all student body activities.