2017-2018 District and Campus Parent - Student Handbook
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Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success 2017-2018 District and Campus Parent - Student Handbook Elite STEM Primary Academy (K-5th Grade) Houston T-STEM and Early College Middle School (6th-8th Grade) Houston T-STEM and Early College High School (9th-12th Grade) 2925 Broadway Houston, Texas 77017 Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars Preparatory (K-8th Grade) 2255 North Coria Street Brownsville Texas 78520 Approved by the Board on June-06-2017 1 Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success is a program of the Tejano Center for Community Concerns RAUL YZAGUIRRE SCHOOLS FOR SUCCESS LEADERSHIP Chief Executive Officer Manuel Lopez, President & CEO Board of Education Mr. David Corpus, Chair TCCC/RYSS Vice Chair Mr. Anthony Magdaleno, Vice Chair TCCC/ RYSS Chair Mrs. Margaret Dunlap, Secretary TCCC/RYSS Mr. Daniel Bustamante, Member TCCC Mr. Salvador Gill, Member TCCC Mrs. Maria P. Gonzalez, Member TCCC Dr. Robert Hasson, Member TCCC/RYSS Administration Dr. Adriana Tamez, Superintendent Luisa Guerra, Principal - Elite STEM Primary Academy Alma Perez-Silva, Principal - Houston T-STEM and Early College Middle and High Schools Maria Knosel, Principal – Brownsville Raul Yzaguirre STEM Scholars Preparatory 2 A message from the Superintendent August 28, 2017 . Dear RYSS Parents and Students, On behalf of the Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success (RYSS) Board of Education and administration, I thank you for choosing RYSS as your education provider. We – the board, president and CEO, administration, faculty, and staff – are all committed to ensuring that we provide the best educational opportunities for our students in a safe and healthy environment. The 2017-2018 RYSS District & Campus Handbook includes information that we believe is essential to help everyone fulfill our shared mission on your behalf. I encourage parents to maintain regular communication with their children’s teachers. Students should also keep the lines of communication open with their teachers to help make the most of the classroom experience. The classroom is the first and most important point of contact for students and parents. If there is a classroom concern, students and parents should first visit with the teacher involved. If there is a concern regarding the operations of your academy, please address this concern with the principal. While my office is available to be of service to all parents and students, I am confident that any academy-related concern is most effectively addressed at the campus level. Once again, thank you for making RYSS your choice for the best educational experience. Working together, you and all of us here at RYSS will prepare the minds and hearts of the next generation of leaders, thinkers, innovators, artisans, and productive citizens. Sincerely, Adriana Tamez Dr . Adriana Tamez Superintendent of Schools RYSS Houston and Brownsville 3 This page left intentionally blank 4 will serve as proof of the incident. What to do if . Textbooks will not be replaced until the Quick Reference Guide lost books are paid for in the office and your financial records are cleared. You arrive late to class… You have found a textbook or personal Go to the front office in the article that is not yours… administration building and get a pass. Turn in the item to the Intervention If you do not have a valid excuse Office and tell them where you found it. submitted by a parent, disciplinary action may be taken. You need to leave your classroom… Obtain a hall pass from your teacher. You are returning after an absence… No students are allowed in the hallways All excuse notes must be left with the without a hall pass that has your name, attendance office or dropped off in the date, time, and destination. Students in Note/Excuse box located at one of the hallways without a hall pass are subject two locations (Houston Primary to disciplinary action and will be entrance or Registration entrance). marked absent in class, which may Notes are not to be given to teachers or cause loss of course credit to meet office staff. promotion requirements. You need to leave school early… You have questions, concerns, or need Before leaving campus, your parent/ advice… guardian must sign you out. Only Schedule an appointment with your parents and family listed can sign you principal/counselor. If they are not out. available, see the Program Assistant for the College and Career Readiness You need to use a telephone… Department (CCR). Return to class, For true emergencies requiring the use and the CCR counselor will send for of a telephone, see the Office for you when an appointment is available. assistance. No classroom phones may The RYSS CCR staff are your be used by students for personal use. advocates and are here to serve you. Students should only use school phones to contact parents. No cell You become ill or injured during phone use is allowed during school School… hours. Any student making a phone call If you are age 13+, obtain a permit from must log the phone call and number in your teacher and go to the Baylor the office. College of Medicine Teen Clinic. Students under 13 go to the school You have lost a textbook or personal nurse. item… Immediately report all losses or thefts You experience difficulty due to to the Intervention office, your principal, someone committing an illegal act or a teacher. An incident report must against you, another student, or the be completed to properly document school… stolen items. Please keep a copy of the Seek the immediate assistance from incident report for your records. This the nearest teacher, advisor, or 5 administrator. File a report with the prior to making this decision. The Intervention Office. principal or counselor can offer assistance in helping you find You need to take medication during appropriate educational opportunities if school… your circumstances have changed. The If your doctor has prescribed computerized withdrawal process medication for you that must be taken begins in the attendance office and with during the school day, your parent must your principal. Remember that the meet with the school nurse. For enrolling parent/guardian must be students 13 years of age and up, the present with an identification to be Baylor College of Medicine Teen Clinic verified. Please bring all books, nurse will need written permission from uniforms, etc. that belong to RYSS or your doctor on file in the clinic office. programs related to RYSS (such as JROTC) to be returned when you You must strictly adhere to these check out. Failure to do so will result in policies: fees. ● A student may not carry medication on his/her person. All medications You want to know more about your need to be kept locked in the Health rights and responsibilities at RYSS… Clinic/nurse’s office. Read this handbook carefully. It ● A written medication permission contains much of the information you form with the original signatures of will need as a student during your both a parent and the prescribing attendance at RYSS. School officials physician must accompany all at RYSS have made every effort to medications. include useful and accurate information ● Each medication must be in its for you. original container with an affixed prescription label listing the In searching for additional avenues of patient’s name for which the drug communication, you can talk with your was prescribed, the drug name, and counselor or principal about issues the proper dosage and important to you. Teachers are also administration information. available to serve you; ask for help. At RYSS, we want you to be well informed These guidelines apply to ALL of both your student rights and medications—both prescription and obligations. over-the-counter. Students found to be in possession of any medication will be subject to disciplinary action. Have a great year! You have a conflict with another student… Seek immediate assistance from a teacher, mentor, counselor, principal, or an intervention team member. You need to withdraw from school… Visit with your principal or counselor 6 FOREWORD The 2017-2018 Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success (RYSS) District & Campus Handbook includes information and guidance determined to be essential for creating a safe and healthy environment for all RYSS students, faculty, staff, parents, and visitors. RYSS has established as one of its primary goals the provision of a high-quality educational program for each student in a school environment that is free of disruptions that interfere with the educational process. The purpose of this handbook is to provide parents and students one comprehensive resource that contains thorough information, guidance, and administrative policies and procedures in all areas related to the operation of RYSS as a district and at each academy. In order to provide a comprehensive and easy- to- use document, the 2017-2018 RYSS District & Campus Handbook is divided into six sections. The first section, District Information, contains information and guidance that applies to all RYSS academies. Subsequently, there is a section pertinent to each RYSS academy. The fifth section includes the school calendars, and the last section refers to required forms. Herein, “academy,” “school,” “campus,” and “RYSS” refer to the Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success. In all instances, district protocols and procedures shall take precedence over individual campus procedures. The 2017-2018 Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success District & Campus Handbook was produced under the guidance of a handbook committee, comprising representative faculty and administrators from each of the RYSS academies. A word of appreciation is extended to each of the committee members. Their insight, professional experience and expertise, and commitment to creating an environment with the best educational opportunities are truly special gifts to each RYSS student. The 2017-2018 Raul Yzaguirre Schools for Success District & Campus Handbook is distributed to parents and students upon the advice and approval of the RYSS Board of Education, including review and consideration of directives as provided by: The Texas Education Agency Texas Administrative Code Texas Education Code Local governmental agencies .