Rice Middle School - Amazon Web Services

Rice
Middle
School
“The Home of the Ravens”
Rice Honor Code:
“I promise to uphold a sense of integrity at Rice Middle School. This
includes maintaining the Raven community standards of tolerance,
discipline, courtesy, responsibility, respect, patriotism, and honesty. By
conducting myself with integrity, I do my part to maintain the Raven
Way, serving both myself and others”
Chris Glasscock
Principal
8500 Gifford Drive
Plano, Texas 75025
469-752-6000
469-752-6001 (fax)
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Rice Middle School
Student Handbook
2011-2012
Phone Number: 469-752-6000
Web Site: http://k-12.pisd.edu/schools/rice
Raven Pride
Welcome to Rice--home of the Ravens. Our school will be
whatever you make it. Let us always have the spirit to do
things to make it outstanding.
At Rice, it is important for students to show respect to one
another and to teachers. Anyone who respects others will gain
respect for himself. Being courteous and polite to students and
teachers shows respect for others. A school where everyone
shows respect is a school in which real learning takes place in
an atmosphere enjoyed by all. At Rice, everybody is
somebody!
Students have a certain responsibility for keeping our school
clean and attractive. Neatness and cleanliness are two
qualities of a good citizen, and a concerted effort by everyone
can help keep our building clean and looking new. That is
another part of “Raven Pride”.
Any student found defacing or harming the school or its
equipment will be charged the cost to repair or replace the
damaged item. Helping maintain an atmosphere of a close and
friendly community will reward students who demonstrate good
citizenship and always do their best. That’s what “Raven
Pride” is all about!
School Day
School begins at 8:30 a.m. and dismisses at 3:30 p.m. From
7:50 to 8:15, seventh and eight grade students report directly
to the cafeteria, while sixth graders report to the small gym.
We expect students who are not with teachers to leave the
building by 3:45 p.m. Students are encouraged to stay for
after school activities.
Students having early morning tutorials, meetings, make-up
work, etc. must obtain a pass from a teacher if it is not a
regularly scheduled tutorial time. The pass MUST be obtained
in advance. Students will not be allowed to go to tutorials if
they arrive after 8:05. Morning tutorial times typically run from
7:50 to 8:20.
Visitors
Visitors are always welcome, especially parents. All visitors to
the school must report to the school office and sign in. This is
for our protection, as we want to know who is in the building at
all times. You will be asked to show your driver’s license and
your child will only be released to a parent or someone on the
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emergency card. Students from other schools will not be
permitted in the building at any time.
The professional and administrative staffs of Rice Middle
School seek to respond quickly to any parental concerns.
Please call in advance for appointments.
Dress Code Guidelines
Students’ dress and grooming of students for school is
expected to be in keeping with accepted community standards.
When violations occur, students will be given the option of
changing into appropriate clothes or calling home to get
clothing.
• All clothing will provide adequate coverage for modest
dress.
• Shoes must be worn at all times.
• Walking shorts may be worn but must be: a) loose fitting,
b) hemmed or cuffed, c) finger tips or longer length. Biking
shorts, cut-off shorts, boxer shorts, or combination thereof
are not permitted.
• Tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, bare midriffs, seethrough
blouses, or mesh shirts will not be permitted.
Shirt straps must be a minimum of 2 inches wide. Shirt
arm holes must cover the upper body. Shirts should
overlap the waistband of skirts, shorts, or pants.
• Dresses or skirts must be longer than fingertips.
• Items with provocative, drug related, or inappropriate
pictures or slogans will not be permitted; items advertising
alcoholic beverages or tobacco products will not be
permitted.
• No hats, caps, bandannas, hoods, wallet chains, or
sunglasses may be worn in the building.
• No unusual hair color such as green or blue.
• No type of clothing which has been torn or has holes will
be allowed.
• No sagging pants or shorts. Underwear should not be
visible (e.g., bra straps, boxer briefs, etc.).
• No gang paraphernalia.
• No visible pierced jewelry other than earrings.
• All students are expected to meet community standards
and school policies with regard to health, cleanliness and
appearance. All safety rules must be obeyed.
Guidance Counselors

Counselors are here to help you with problems concerning
both school and your personal life. They can be another
“friend” that you have at school. If you would like to meet with
a counselor and she is not in her office, please leave a
message and contact will be made as soon as possible. You
may contact your child’s counselor or any other counselor if
you have any concerns. You may schedule appointments with
Aruna Vig, Counselor Clerk, by calling 469-752-6015. The
grade level counselors for the 2010-11 school year are:
Chelsea Bohannon (6 th grade): 469-752-6016
Susan Barshop (7 th grade): 469-752-6018
Sarena Edwards (8 th grade): 469-752-6017
Student Behavior
Students at Rice Middle School are expected to conduct
themselves in such a way that each student contributes to a
school atmosphere that is safe and helpful to learning. Since a
school is only as good as the reputation of its students, each of
you should realize that your conduct is a reflection on yourself,
your parents, and often on the entire student body. All
students have the right to an education and no one will be
allowed to interfere with that right.
Student Expectations:
• Be on time to class.
• Be prepared for class with all materials.
• Have all assignments completed by the start of
class.
• Be prepared to remain in class.
• Work in cooperation with teachers and other
students.
• Stay on task.
If a student is not able to meet these expectations, the school
will work with the student and parent to provide interventions.
If a student is having a problem with another student, he/she
needs to ask an adult for help in working it out.
Student Electronic Devices
Students may not talk or text on their cell phones between
7:50AM and 3:45 PM. During after school activities, cell
phones may be used by teacher permission only.
Students may use personal devices for academic purposes by
permission of specific teachers in their classrooms. Teacher
permission applies to a specific class period for academic use,
not personal use.
Personal electronic devices may not be used in common areas
such as the cafeteria, hallways, or restrooms.
The student assumes responsibility for parent permission as
well as teacher permission. The parent is responsible for all
cost related to the device, including loss or damage.
Please be advised that the following consequences are in
place for violations:
1st offense– Item collected; warning given. Student picks up
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item after-school from ACE room; copy of this notice is given to
student to take home to parents. Student returns signed copy
to ACE room the next day. Failure to do so will result in lunch
detention.
2nd offense– Item collected; parent called to pick up item;
lunch detention issued.
3rd offense– Item collected; parent conference with
administrator; Wednesday School issued.
4 th Offense- Item collected; campus intervention meeting.
Serious incident clause- The following may result
in Wednesday School and parent conference, or
other appropriate consequence: texting during class;
responding insubordinately to staff; refusing to turn in
item; displaying inappropriate images on confiscated
items; any behavior that would constitute a violation
of the district student code of conduct policy.
Telephone Use
A phone is available in the office for student use. You must get
permission from a member of the office staff to use the phone.
You may come to the office after obtaining a pass from your
teacher. You may also use a classroom telephone with the
permission of your teacher. If you are not feeling well, you
must go to the nurse and have the nurse determine if you need
to go home.
Bus Guidelines
Riding a bus to school is a privilege. It
is also considered an extension of the school day. Therefore,
the school administration is responsible for seeing that all
students have an orderly and safe ride to and from school.
Disruptive behavior on the bus will be reported to a campus
administrator. Disciplinary action will be taken to correct the
problem. If a student plans on going home with another
student who rides a different bus, plans must be made for
alternate transportation.
The transportation department does offer fare busing for
students at Rice, please contact them at 469-752-0720 if you
have any questions.
Lunch
Rice is on the Point of Sale system for lunch. This is the
automated cash register system. Students will be given a PIN
number. Money can be deposited into the accounts Monday
through Friday from 8:00-10:00 a.m. in the cafeteria. Parents
may request an Account Activity Report at any time that lists all
daily purchases and payments made to the account. Plano
ISD has an on-line payment option. PayPAMS allows parents
to make credit card payments for their child’s lunch account via
the Internet. Parents can find the PayPAMS link on the PISD
website at http://pisd.edu.

A variety of items and meals are offered daily. Free and
reduced lunches are available to those who meet the income
guidelines. Students should receive an application when class
schedules are picked up.
The administration and cafeteria management asks
cooperation in observing the following guidelines:
• Remain at your lunch table during lunch unless buying ice
cream, snacks, water, or soda.
• Deposit all litter and recyclable products in the appropriate
container and return the food trays to the appropriate
place.
• Leave the table and the floor around your table clean.
• Do not take food or drinks outside the cafeteria.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in eating lunch in
an assigned area such as the in-school suspension room.
Lunchtime should be an enjoyable time for students. You
should act just as you would at your own dinner table or while
dining in a restaurant with your family.
6 th grade students will be assigned seats at the beginning of
the year to help with the lunch process. They will eventually be
given an opportunity to choose where they sit.
Food and Nutritional Services is happy to serve your child. If
you have any questions or concerns, please contact the
cafeteria manager.
Healthy Eating Habits
The Texas Department of Agriculture has established the
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy. This is an effort to
promote healthy eating habits among our youth. Your child is
free to bring whatever foods you choose for your child, but your
child cannot share foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) or
food that competes with the school lunch. In general, this
means your child cannot share candy or cake ( FMNV) or
pizza, hamburgers, etc (competitive foods) with another
student. The school is responsible for enforcing the policy
developed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Please
support promoting good eating habits by not bringing food up
to the school to share with other students. For more
information you can go to the following website:
http://www.squaremeals.org
Closed Campus
We operate a closed campus policy. Students are not
permitted to leave the school grounds at any time during the
school day without written permission from a parent or
guardian. If you must leave school because of illness or any
other reason, you must sign out in the office. When you return
to school, you will need to bring a note from home or the doctor
excusing the absence. You may bring your note to the front
office between 8:15 and 8:30 on the morning of your return to
school.
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Homework
Home study is a necessary part of each student’s educational
program. Each student is expected to spend some time in
addition to scheduled class instruction to achieve satisfactory
work.
Some assignments are long range in nature and require
planned study time for their completion. Planned study
eliminates the necessity of spending too much time completing
an assignment the day before it is due.
Lockers
Each student is assigned his/her own locker. A combination
will be assigned to each locker. Periodic inspections are made
to see that lockers are kept neat and clean. Use only the
locker assigned to you and keep it locked at all times. To
ensure security, students are cautioned against sharing their
locker combinations with each other. If your locker is broken,
contact a campus administrator and we will handle it as soon
as possible.
Textbooks
Textbooks are loaned to students for use during the school
year. They are to be kept clean, handled carefully, and kept
covered at all times. Students who have lost a textbook or
have severely damaged a textbook must pay for the book in
the office before issuance of another book. At the end of the
school year or when the student withdraws, teachers will check
for damage and assess fines.
Lost and Found
All articles found should be taken to the lost and found boxes
located in the pod areas, cafeteria and front office. Items of
value are generally brought to the front office. Students who
have lost an article should check these lost and found areas
before or after school to inquire about the property. The PE
department maintains its own lost and found. Items left in the
lost and found are removed from the campus at the end of
each six weeks period.
Withdrawals
Withdrawal requests need to be given to the counselor’s office
at least three days in advance. On your last full day, obtain
appropriate forms from the counselor’s secretary, have the
forms filled out by your teachers, return all school and library
books and property, and make sure all fees are paid. At the
end of the day, take the completed form to the counselor’s
secretary for final clearance.

Medication at School
A school employee may administer medication to a student at
school or during school-sponsored events under the following
conditions:
1. A written request to administer the medication must
be filed by the parent or guardian at the school.
2. All medication must be in its original container and
properly labeled.
3. Only medications that cannot be scheduled outside
of the school day may be given.
4. All prescription medication must be in the original
container and have the pharmacist’s label, which
must include name, RX number, dosage, and time
required.
5. A written request form in the nurse’s office must be
filled out by the parent and signed.
If a student is taking a daily medication that is 1-1/2 tablets,
please cut up some of the tablets before the student brings it
in.
Library
The Rice Middle School Library contains a variety of fiction,
nonfiction, and reference books. We also provide access to
online reference materials such as databases, ebooks, and
electronic journals. A Rice Ravens Library class page is
available to all students via their login at rice.mypisd.net.
Frequently, research boxes containing project specific
resources and instructions are available at the Library class
online.
Many of our online resources may be accessed from your
home computer. Log in to your rice.mypisd.net account then
select Rice Ravens Library from your class list. You may be
asked for an ID and password when accessing certain
research resources from home, the current ID and password
will be available on the Library Class page.
The library opens at 8:00 each morning and closes at 3:45 PM.
Occasionally we are closed for meetings and special events.
When possible, closings will be posted in advance on the
library calendar available on the Rice Ravens Library class at
rice.mypisd.net.
Students may check out a total of 3 items for a period of 2
weeks. An overdue fine is assessed at 10¢ per day for each
day after the due date. Books overdue after 30 days will be
marked as lost and the student must pay for the book.
Please let us know how we can help you whether you are
interested in a book for pleasure reading or doing research.
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Attendance
Students are required by TEA to be in attendance in each
class at least 90% of the time. For those students absent more
than 10%, an attendance committee will evaluate the student’s
attendance record at the end of the year. The committee may
designate that the student attends summer school or repeat
the class in order to receive credit for the class. Parents will be
notified when a student has excessive absences.
Parents are requested to call the school at 469-752-6000 and
follow the menu directions when a student is absent. In
addition, upon returning to school, the student MUST bring to
the office a signed and dated note containing the student’s
legal name, grade and reason for absence. Failure to turn in a
note within three days will cause the absence to be unexcused.
If a student is absent more than five consecutive days, a
doctor’s note will be necessary upon the child’s return.
Make up assignments or tests shall be made available to
students after an excused absence. Students are given one
school day for each day they are absent to make up the work
missed. Parents can request homework assignments for
students absent three or more school days by calling the office
before 10:00 a.m. on the third day of the absence. This
requested homework is due upon the student’s return to
school. It is expected that students will begin working on
assignments and will communicate with their teachers
concerning due dates.
Absences such as vacations and trips (except those excused
by the principal for unusual circumstances), babysitting,
working, non-school-sponsored athletic events and programs
shall be considered unexcused.
In order for a student to make up and receive credit for work
assigned during an unexcused absence, the student must
submit one week in advance a written notification of the
planned absence to the principal. When no prior notification is
given, the student shall receive a zero for all work assigned
during the absence.
Semester Exams
Semester Exams will be given at the
end of each semester in December and
June. The exams will be given on the
last four days of each semester. It is
important for students to be at school
during exam week. Please consider this as you schedule
appointments and make travel arrangements. Go to pisd.edu
for the school calendar.