Student Guidelines 2022 2023
Early College High Schools
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Guiding Belief
Dear Parents and Students,
At Challenge Early College HS, we focus on providing and maintaining a safe and positive learning environment for students, faculty, staff and community. A major consideration in the application of the dress code and other policies is cultivating a positive school climate to support academic achievement, promote fairness, civility, acceptance of diversity, and mutual respect.
A presentation of Administrators and Support Team, expectations and rules was presented to all our students by grade level assembly at the beginning of the school year. Enforcement of our dress code and other rules is to provide a safe and orderly learning environment. A student's dress and general appearance should not be so extreme that it draws attention to the student, nor should dress and appearance detract or interfere with the teaching and learning in the classroom, but also to promote safety as we will be able to identify exactly who is supposed to be on our campus.
CECHS staff, teachers, counselors and administrators will enforce the dress code in a uniform manner. They will also determine the appropriateness of attire for school occasions and activities. All students have the responsibility to wear clothing that contributes both to their own health and safety as well as that of others. The student dress code applies to students on campus, school fieldtrip, whether during the school day, or after hours, including those serving detention or Saturday School.
ID Badges: ID badges must be worn each class period, every day. Badges must be worn on a lanyard or provided clip above the waist.
**Note: Challenge ECHS picture IDs will be required beginning Monday, Sep 26, 2022. **
Students who disagree with particular requirements of the CECHS dress code are encouraged to work within the system to request changes. Use your representatives on the SDMC and on Student Council to express your opinions. There are many interests for the school to consider in deciding policy, but please know that student concerns are given serious consideration whenever policy is developed. Also, courts at both the state and federal levels have recognized the rights of school officials to regulate standards of student dress and grooming.
Students not in compliance with the standardized dress code will be subject to disciplinary action. The administration of Challenge ECHS will be the final authority of any rules subject to interpretation. When in doubt, do not wear items until it has been cleared by an administrator.
Thank you
CECHS Administration
Houston ISD Core Values: Strategic Five-Year Plan / Core Values (houstonisd.org)
Challenge ECHS Tutorial Schedule
Teachers Contact Information
A- Day (Mondays & Wednesdays) / B- Day (Tuesdays & Thursdays) SCHEDULE
C- Day (selected Fridays) CLUBS
Nurse Mary Culhane
Welcome to Challenge!
I'm Nurse Culhane. Please contact me to complete required forms for students with medications.
Feel free to call or email me with any concerns or suggestions for your student.
I can't wait to see you all again and meet our new students!
Tel: 713-664-9712
Students Commitments
Check the CANVAS online, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Outlook for information on classes, assignments, and resources.
Complete and submit assignments on time.
Create a learning space at home to do schoolwork
Participate in activities and assignments provided by their teachers.
Students of College Level programs (Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment) will need to follow specific program coursework, policies and requirements.
Are responsible for learning how to access and navigate online resources.
Complete independent reading goals.
Students Understand…
- enrollment in Pre-AP, AP and Dual Credit courses as appropriate.
- required to attend Challenge ECHS and HCC classes regularly.
- to set aside time for homework every night to help ensure assignments are completed on time.
- to come prepared for every class every day and turn in all assignments on time.
- to conduct in an academically professional manner by following all rules of common courtesy and demonstrating best work ethic at all times.
- understand that student is ultimately responsible for their success. Student will be given resources and support but he/she/they is responsible for using these resources and asking for help.
Parents & Guardians Commitments
Provide an appropriate learning space for students when possible
Maintain communication with teachers as needed
Connect with your student every day at a time that works well for your household - This might be a quick check-in a few times a day or a longer check-in in the morning or evening.
Some questions that might help spark a conversation include:
· Were you able to complete all the assigned activities?
· What did you learn/practice/read today?
· What was easy or challenging for you?
· Do you have any questions for your teacher?
Monitor student time on task.
Parents of students in college level programs (Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment) should ensure their students follow specific program coursework, policies, procedures, and requirements.
Challenge ECHS parents will support their student by …
- ensuring there is a quiet time and place for my student to do homework every night.
- checking grades on-line and/or review my student’s progress report.
- communicating with my student and staff regularly regarding progress, goals, questions, comments, and concerns.
- ensuring my student has transportation to and from school on the days when HCC/Challenge ECHS is in session and HISD is not.
- ensuring there is transportation to and from tutorials and/or Saturday School as needed.
- ensuring that my student is in regular attendance at Challenge ECHS and HCC.
- maintaining accurate contact information with the school by reporting any changes in address or telephone numbers immediately.
- understanding that when my student is in a HCC class, regardless of location, that they must follow all HISD, Challenge ECHS and HCC policies.
Closed Campus Policy
- Once a student arrives on campus for the school day, he or she will not be permitted to leave the campus without approval from the attendance office/administrator.
- Students may not leave school for any reason (other than for an approved school-sponsored activity) unless checked out by a parent/guardian through the attendance office.
- Students who leave campus without following these procedures will be disciplined and the absence will be marked unexcused.
- Seniors can qualify for Off Campus Lunch. Seniors y parents will have to complete the "Senior Off Campus Lunch Permission Form"
Dress Code
All students attending Challenge Early College HS are required to dress for college success. Team are expected to enforce the dress code, and for questionable attire.
The Challenge Early College dress code is established to
teach appropriate dress and grooming,
instill discipline,
prevent disruption,
avoid safety hazards,
teach respect for authority, and
provide a positive, productive learning environment in both high school and college classes.
The Administration expects students to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear clothes that are suitable in our community and the HCC community.
The following are defined as inappropriate dress for a Challenge student; however, other violations may exist that are not listed:
Shirts or other articles of clothing that expose the mid-drift, bellybutton, cleavage, or undergarments, shoulders, and back
Shirts and/or accessories that promote drugs, alcohol, violence, weaponry, gangs, sex, tobacco usage, or profanity
Shorts, skirts, dresses, slits, and holes that are above the knee
Pajamas, sleepwear, leggings, and other clothing intended for house wear
Pants worn below waist level
Sunglasses, hats, and head coverings of any type inside the building (unless it is a documented religious garment, medical garment, or campus activity where specific permission has been given)
Bare feet, house slippers, shower shoes, flip flops (any footwear made of rubber or that could constitute a tripping hazard). Teachers, administrators, and campus employees have the right to determine if there is a safety concern.
Any hair, hats, head wear, makeup, or clothing that is a distraction to instruction or creates a safety concern.
Dresses or skirts that are fitted or contoured to the body
If there are additional dress code rules for specific courses, such as a Science classroom, students must adhere to the rules of that instructor!
CECHS will not tolerate gang-related behavior and/or the wearing of gang- identified articles of clothing and/or other gang symbols. Any articles of clothing, symbols, or emblems thought to signify gang membership will be banned. Apparel with inappropriate writing, inappropriate drawings, or inappropriate advertisements, to include but not limited to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, prison activities, gang activities, sexual innuendoes, cultural divisiveness, and racial intolerance may not be worn.
CECHS faculty and administration will enforce the dress code in a uniform manner. They will also determine the appropriateness of attire for school occasions and activities. All students have the responsibility to wear clothing that contributes both to their own health and safety as well as that of others. The student dress code applies to students on campus, whether during the school day or after hours, including those serving detention or Saturday School.
Thank you for understanding and cooperating with the Eagle Family!
ELECTRONICS & CELL PHONE USE POLICY
Cell phones/electronic devices may serve as an outstanding instructional tool and learning resource, if used appropriately. We encourage our staff members and students to use electronics and other 21st century devices to supplement instruction and learning. In order to preserve the teaching and learning environment.
Cell phones/electronic devices may be used for educational purposes in the classroom setting. If a student wishes to use their device for non-educational purposes they may do so before the morning bell rings, lunch and after school, Monday through Friday. Lunch time is not an instructional time; however, the administration of Challenge Early College HS reserves the right to ban cell phone use during the lunch hours if student cell phone use during lunch times should happen to evolve into a situation which disrupts the educational process and/or safety of students.
If a cell phone/head phones or any electronic device rings, vibrates, is used for any reason other than allowed by an educator or administrator, or is visible anytime during class time, a staff member has the right to confiscate the device.
Refusal to surrender a cell phone or electronic device when asked is defiance. Defiance can result in disciplinary consequences, including suspension. Parent will be contacted.
Each Offense ~ Your parent will be contacted to pay a $15 fee for returning of the device.
The staff of Challenge Early College HS asks for your FULL co-operation with our policy.
Parents can contact their teenager via their cell phone before school and after school. In the event of an immediate emergency, please call the main school line at (713) 664-9712.
If a student is ill, they should see the nurse, academic administrator or counselor. Students are not authorized to use their personal phones during instructional hours or hallways, including situations in which they may feel ill and wish to call a parent or other guardian to inform them.
If a student’s cell phone is visible, if a student is texting, if a student is using the phone to speak with, if a student is surfing the Internet, etc. the device will be confiscated. The phone will be available for pick up from the main office after 3:35 pm. HISD policy requires a fee for the return of cell phones. Texas Education Code §37.082 requires a $15 retrieval fee for cell phones.
STUDENTS TARDY TO CLASS - If you Miss Instruction, then you will need to Make-up Instruction
Students arriving after the first 15 minutes of the class on a 45 minutes period or arriving after the first 30 minutes of class on a 90 minutes period will be counted absent, not tardy.
To avoid class interruptions, teachers will only accept students with their tardy pass from the main office.
- Students who arrive late to class because they are taking care of individual responsibilities such as getting a drink of water, obtaining permits, etc. will be considered tardy.
- Students riding HISD school buses are excused if the late arrival of their bus makes them late for class.
- Passes for those students will be provided upon arrival via attendance office. This does not apply to Metro buses.
- Main Office will document student tardiness in the morning (during the first period of the day).
Teachers are expected to monitor the students’ tardiness and contact parent if students have 3 tardiness within 2 weeks.
- Students will report to the tardy station/main office to receive a pass.
- Periods (2, 3, 4, 6, 7 & 8) - Teacher will document student’s tardiness and will contact parent in regards their tardiness.
- if behavior continues, then student will receive detention/after school tutorials. Additionally, teacher will complete a discipline referral in regards their tardy or truancy and will send a referral to the designated Dean and Attendance Office.
Students Leaving School Early
A student leaving school early must be signed-out in the main office by a parent/guardian with the approval of an administrator (or designee).
Leaving School Early for an Appointment
- On the day of the appointment, the student must take a note from a parent/guardian to the attendance office before school begins.
The note must contain: - a phone number where the parent or guardian can be reached.
- the name and phone number of the doctor, dentist, or other professional with whom the student has an appointment.
- Upon verification of the appointment, the attendance office will issue a permit for the student. Students will not be released from school without a parent/guardian present.
- The student keeps this official permit to show to his or her teachers following a return to school.
Leaving School Early Due to Illness - If a student becomes ill while at school, he or she should get a permit from the classroom teacher to go to the Nurse's office/main office.
- If the nurse is absent, the student is to report to the main office.
- Under no circumstances are students to leave school without proper administrative authorization.
- School Nurse or school official will make contact with a parent/guardian if the students needs to be picked-up due to illness.