Rider Family Newsletter
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
A Note from the Principal
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We’re excited to welcome students back to campus for the 63rd and final year of S.H. Rider High School. I truly believe there are great things in store for all of us in the coming months.
Here a few reminders and resources to help as we begin school on Wednesday, August 16th:
- Our Assistant Principals have put together a short video highlighting several reminders and a few improvements for students for this year. Please take a minute to preview this information here before we go over it the first week of school.
- Students have one more opportunity to pick up their chromebooks, Tuesday, August 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 in the library. They must have these for the first day of school.
- Here’s our one page summary of the WFISD dress code for you to review. Please ensure your student meets these expectations each day.
- Here are two maps with information for arrival and dismissal, including where students may be dropped off or picked up and what doors they may enter the building through. All students must be off campus by 3:20 each day.
- Students may see their preliminary schedule by logging into Skyward until the first day of school. All student official schedules may be viewed in Skyward on the first day of school on their chromebook.
- Remember we’ve shared updated information regarding cell phones, tardies, and students returning from the CEC, dual credit, virtual classes, and seniors with early release/late arrival.
- Please see our website for more information and links to our social media pages.
We are excited about this year and welcoming students back Wednesday. Thanks again for partnering with us as we invest in your them.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Let’s go ROHO! One family, one team!
Cody Blair, Ed.D.
Principal
A message from Dr. Lee
Friends Video
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RECURRING INFORMATION
Cell Phone Policy
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices
Students may use electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, smartwatch, personal computers, gaming devices, airpods, earbuds, headphones) before and after school, during lunch and during passing periods only. Specifically:
Students may only send messages; no calls may be placed/received.
Speakers will be prohibited.
Students are allowed to listen to music using the one in/one out earbud practice. The one in/one out earbud practice is designed for safety allowing the student to still be able to hear directions from teachers or other staff members during these designated times. If at any point sound from an electronic device is heard, the student will be asked to lower the volume and may run the risk of the device being confiscated.
Students may not use any recording (video) feature on an electronic device at any time, unless approved by a supervising teacher.
Students who violate the electronic device policy are subject to the following disciplinary action:
First Offense: The electronic device is confiscated by a staff member and returned to
the student at the end of the class period. This is a first offense warning.
Second Offense: The electronic device is confiscated by a staff member, staff member contacts the parent (via e-mail or phone), it is brought to the Attendance Office Clerk (Ginger Falnes) and will be marked on a Google Sheet. A parent/guardian will be required to pick up the phone during school hours.
Third (+) Offense: A parent/guardian will pick up the phone and student will receive a
discipline referral and consequenced placement in accordance with the Code of Conduct.
If a student continues to violate this policy, an administrator may require the parent to not allow the student to bring the device to school. A discipline referral will be assigned for insubordination of school rules.
Administrators may require students to put away electronic devices at any given time while on campus. Student use of cell electronic devices is a privilege, not a right. Any student who violates the district’s electronic device limitations may face restrictions and disciplinary consequences.
The District’s Acceptable Use Policy will apply to any and all devices. As always, any violation of district or campus limitations will be disciplined in accordance with the student code of conduct
School Arrival Reminders
School Departure Reminders
School is dismissed at 3:00 p.m. All students upon dismissal are to proceed directly to pick up areas. Buses will load and depart on Lindale. Students will wait on the south side of the building near Lindale to load buses. Those students walking home or driving home should leave campus immediately upon dismissal.
Students who are waiting for a ride must wait in front of the building near the main entrance (flag poles). No students will be allowed to loiter on campus or in the building after school is dismissed. Students riding home should be picked up by 3:10 p.m. This includes when there are extracurricular activities on campus.
Students who are not in the designated areas after school will be subject to disciplinary action. Absolutely no students will be allowed to remain in the building unsupervised after school.
Thanks for your help with this campus procedure.
Grading Period
Grades for progress cards are due on September 8, 2023. Grades for report cards are due on September 25, 2023.
Remember, you can monitor your student's grades through the Skyward Parent Access Portal. If you have questions about this, contact the school and ask for the counseling office. One of the staff can help you get access to Skyward.
Another thing to remember is that assignments in Google Classroom may not always be 'graded' and reported into Skyward. Skyward is the BEST place to stay on top of your students grades!
Dress and Grooming Standards
The district’s dress code teaches grooming and hygiene, prevents disruption, minimizes safety hazards, and maintains a positive learning climate. Students and parents may determine a student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the following:
• Appropriate undergarments shall be worn and appropriately covered.
• Sunglasses, combs, hats, bandanas and head coverings shall not be worn in the
buildings. Head coverings worn for bona fide religious or medical reasons may be
allowed. Potential exemptions shall be filed with the principal by the parent and shall
be handled on an individual basis.
• When belts are worn, they must be buckled. If there is no buckle, the belt must be tied.
• Shirts and blouses must be buttoned.
• Tattoos are not allowed to be visible during the school day or at extracurricular
activities.
• Clothing or accessories with lettering, symbols or decorations that detract from the
learning process or illustrate or promote alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, sex,
vulgarity or violence either explicitly or by innuendo will not be allowed.
• T-shirts, hats, tattoos and other articles bearing words or symbols, color combinations
or any other recognized gang insignia, articles of clothing or uniforms, when
recognized by the principal as such, will not be allowed.
• Shoes are to be worn at all times. Shoes designed for strings or buckles must be fully
laced/fastened. Students shall not wear shoes that the principal determines to be a
hazard to the safety of the student or others on a campus.
• Students will not attend classes with their hair rolled up nor will they apply makeup in
the classroom.
• Hair is to be neat, clean, well-groomed and styled so that vision will not be obstructed.
Hair styles and hair colors that create a distraction will not be allowed. If beards or
mustaches are worn, they must be kept clean and neatly trimmed.
• Students are permitted to wear earrings in their ears only. All other body piercing
objects are not allowed.
• All dress and skirt lengths must fall not higher than 3 inches above the knee.
• Clothing with spaghetti straps will not be permitted.
• Ripped jeans will be allowed unless location of openings is deemed inappropriate by
the principal.
Additional Information for Secondary Students:
Students at secondary campuses may wear shorts provided they are the appropriate mid-thigh length with knee length preferred. Short-shorts, athletic shorts such as wind shorts, bicycle shorts, bare midriffs, halter tops, tank tops, see-through tops (such as loose woven or fishnet materials), tight fitting warm-up/jogging suits, sun dresses, miniskirts, and sagging pants shall be prohibited. Loose fitting jogging suits/sweat suits shall be permitted.
In addition, Rider reserves the right the enforce the following more specific dress code areas for the benefit of students and student learning:
Slits on the side of skirts or dresses may not be shorter than 6 inches (without tights) from the floor when kneeling. Miniskirts are not permitted.
Open back or partially open back shirts are not permitted. No low cut tops that allow cleavage to be visible.
Ripped or torn jeans must not allow skin above mid-thigh to show through. The ripped areas may be no larger than the students’ hand (when fingers are not spread out). The ripped area may not be covered with tape or paper towels.
Students may not wear tails, ears, or other costume accessories.
Students may not wrap themselves in a blanket while at school. Blankets must be folded and stored in a backpack until school is out.
Dress code infractions cannot be covered up (with jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, etc.).
Administrator’s decision on all dress code matters is final.
Failure to follow the dress code will result in a disciplinary referral. Staff members will fill out a Google Form for students who violate the Dress Code policy. Students will be permitted to call a parent for a change of clothes ONLY on the first offense. Students who repeatedly disregard rules on dress or grooming shall be guilty of insubordination and shall be subject to disciplinary action. The campus will not provide alternate clothing.
School Calendar 2023-2024
College Corner
PSAT will be offered to 9th and 10th graders in March. Sign ups will start late January or early February. Students will get info through their English classes!
SAT and ACT are still optional for many colleges but these dates are left for the spring semester. Juniors are advised to take the exams at the end of their junior year!
Remember all seniors and juniors have 2 days they may use to visit colleges/trade schools. Please make an appointment with the college/school you wish to visit. Bring proof of visit on official college/school letterhead to the attendance office within 3 days of the visit.
JROTC
JROTC
Join JROTC! What’s in it for me? Here are a few benefits of being in the Army JROTC:
September Field Meet (Dodgeball, Tug of war, races {4/100, 4/400, Food Relay, Dizzy bat})
September Fitness Challenge Meet (2 Mile Relay, Fireman’s Carry, pushups, pullups, etc…)
Free Entry to Home Football Games (Raider Crew, Color Guard, or Band Watch)
Class Trip (Six Flags, Medieval Times, etc…) *Hiking Trips (At least one per semester)
Online Academic Team (Made it to Nationals in 2018 in Washington DC) *Free Trip
Service Projects and Color Guard opportunities off Campus. (Example: OKC Thunder Color Guard)
Parades *College Visits
Some classes on Leadership, Finance, First Aide, etc…
Team building activities or Sports Days once per week.
Opportunities to win Medals, Ribbons, Certificates, and even Scholarships.
After Teams available (Color Guard, Shooting , PT, Academics) Drill in places like Waco, Amarillo, Fort Worth, OKC.
Enrollment in (JROTC) does not require you to pursue a military obligation, it’s just a leadership class.
**If interested in joining, Please contact your counselor**
RIDER HIGH SCHOOL
4611 Cypress Ave, Wichita Falls, TX 76310
(940) 235-1077
FAX: (940) 235-1301
School website: https://wfisdnet-23-us-central1-01.preview.finalsitecdn.com/
School Twitter: https://twitter.com/RiderRaiders
School Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S-H-Rider-High-School-1482752538437914