El Rancho Charter School

Monday-Wednesday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Thursday 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Friday 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM

As we head off for the holidays, we want to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. We are incredibly grateful for the support, kindness, and dedication that each of you brings to our school. May this season be filled with peace, joy, and precious moments with family and friends. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Our campus will be closed through Sunday, January 12, 2025. School resumes on Monday, January 13, 2025.

For over 15 years, El Rancho has participated in Adopt-A-Family with the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana. The Community Center supports families in need throughout the year. This year, we were able to adopt 10 families to make their Christmas brighter. We want to thank all of our El Rancho Families that participated. We are so fortunate to work with such generous families.

Tutorial begins next week! On each Wednesday and Thursday, we have Tutorial for 30 minutes before lunch. Students should use this time to make up tests, complete missing assignments, and get help from teachers when needed.

Students who are stamped by their teacher must attend that tutorial session. If stamped by multiple teachers, the subject that has priority that day takes precedence.

Students who have C grades or better, are not stamped by a teacher, and do not have any detention stamps, can go to PE or the lunch benches to complete homework. It is the students' responsibility to check their grades prior to Tutorial.

Students have the 5-minute passing period to get to their tutorial room. Once students arrive at their Tutorial destination, they stay there for the entire 30 minutes. Please use the menu below to make a plan for this week!

After-school programs are held Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm. Students are expected to stay for the entire hour.

Homework Club in the Library

Math Academy in Room 306

Career Day is coming in February. We hope you will be able to participate in this fantastic event that students and staff look forward to each year.

Basketball season begins after winter break. Tryouts will be in late January. Stay tuned for more information!

All games begin at 3:00 PM

Flag Football

Monday, November 4th: Cerro Villa @ El Rancho (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, November 18th: McPherson @ El Rancho (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, December 2nd: Santiago Charter @ El Rancho (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, December 9th: El Rancho @ Portola Middle School (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, December 16th: El Rancho @ Cerro Villa (Boys and Girls Lost)

Volleyball

Monday, November 4th: El Rancho @ Cerro Villa (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, November 18th: El Rancho @ McPherson (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, December 2nd: El Rancho @ Santiago Charter (Boys and Girls Team B Won)

Monday, December 9th: Portola Middle School @ El Rancho (Boys and Girls Won)

Monday, December 16th: Cerro Villa @ El Rancho (Boys and Girls Won)

As the flag football and volleyball seasons close, it’s time to reflect on our teams' incredible efforts and successes. Our volleyball squads truly dominated the court, finishing the season undefeated! Their hard work, determination, and team spirit were on full display throughout every match, and we couldn't be prouder of their exceptional performance.

This season also marked the inaugural year for both boys' volleyball and girls' flag football, and both teams rose to the occasion with incredible enthusiasm and skill. The boys' volleyball team made a strong debut, showing immense promise as they laid the foundation for many seasons to come. The girls' flag football team also had a remarkable first season, with their only loss coming in a tough battle that showcased their grit and growth.

While our other flag football teams faced some tough competition and ended the season with only one loss, their resilience, and sportsmanship were evident in every game. They gave their all, and their growth as a team this season was truly inspiring.

Overall, it’s been a fantastic season of hard work, teamwork, and unforgettable memories. A huge congratulations to everyone involved—players, coaches, and supporters—for making this such a successful and enjoyable season. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for these teams, and we're excited to continue building on the momentum of this inaugural year. Go teams!

The bell schedule for this year will remain the same as last year's schedule. On Wednesday and Thursday, Tutorial is built in to provide student support during the school day. Thursday will be our early release day to provide time for our staff development and collaboration.

In the last week, we have seen an increase in students pulling on others' backpacks. To keep everyone safe on campus, students need to keep their hands to themselves.

Students should avoid pulling each other's backpacks for several reasons:

1. Personal Space: Everyone deserves their personal space. Pulling a backpack can invade someone’s boundaries and make them uncomfortable.

2. Safety Concerns: Tugging on a backpack can lead to accidents, such as tripping or falling. This can result in injuries for both the person being pulled and the one doing the pulling.

3. Damage to Belongings: Backpacks often contain valuable items like books, electronics, or personal belongings. Pulling can damage these items or even cause them to fall out.

4. Promotes Respect: Respecting others’ belongings and personal space fosters a more positive and considerate school atmosphere.

Encouraging respectful interactions helps create a supportive community where everyone feels safe. Students who continue to pull backpacks will receive consequences.

We want to remind all E-Bike riders that wearing a helmet is mandatory. Those who choose to ride their E-Bikes without a helmet may be pulled over and ticketed, which is a $25 fine to start.

For their safety, students riding E-Bikes to school must wear a helmet and should not ride in the parking lot.

Outside food delivery (Canes, In-N-Out, etc) is not allowed; no exceptions. Food is available in the cafeteria before school, at nutrition, and at lunch for free for all students. Again, outside deliveries, including fast food deliveries from parents, are not allowed.

We want to inform our families that Anaheim PD will occasionally patrol Santa Ana Canyon/Fairmont and Del Giorgio during school drop-off and pick-up hours. Families are expected to follow all traffic and parking laws when dropping off and picking up their students. Anaheim PD will not give warnings and will write tickets.

Del Giorgio:

Do not park in the cul-de-sac or any other red zone areas.

Santa Ana Canyon/Fairmont Drop-Off:

Do not stop or park in the red zone, pull forward to the white loading and unloading zone.

Do not double park.

Do not cut back into traffic, pull all the way through the drop-off area.

Do not block Fairmont Blvd.

Families can avoid crowded pick-up times by scheduling pick-up 10-15 minutes after school gets out. Traffic has drastically reduced by that time and it is much easier to pick your student up. We do not want our families to be ticketed, so please follow the laws.

Several of our students and staff are allergic to scented lotions, perfumes, cologne, and body spray. In the interest of safety and to minimize classroom disruptions, please discuss the following with your students:

Spraying scented lotions, body sprays, perfumes, and colognes in classrooms can create several issues:

1. Allergies and Sensitivities: Many students and staff have allergies or sensitivities to fragrances, which can trigger asthma attacks, headaches, or skin reactions.

2. Distraction: Strong scents can be distracting in a learning environment, making it difficult for students to concentrate on lessons.

3. Ventilation: Classrooms often have limited ventilation. Strong fragrances can build up in the air, leading to an uncomfortable environment for everyone.

4. Personal Space: Scent can invade personal space, and not everyone appreciates or enjoys the same fragrances.

5. Inclusivity: Some people may have cultural or personal reasons for avoiding scents, and creating a fragrance-free environment promotes inclusivity.

By keeping fragrances out of classrooms, we can ensure a more comfortable and focused learning atmosphere for everyone. Students who use these items will receive consequences.

Students will be expected to dress in their uniforms daily. Uniforms consist of navy bottoms and a polo shirt. PE clothes like track pants, PE shorts, PE shirts, and Dance clothes will only be worn during PE classes.

Uniforms are purchased from American Casual with the El Rancho logo on them. Purchases can be made at Registration or American Casual's store. Please note that from August 12-15, American Casual will be closed as they prepare to be at El Rancho for Registration, and all their stock will be on our campus.

Daily Uniforms include:

• Grey, green, or maroon shirts
• Navy pants, shorts, or skorts
• Sweatshirts, windbreakers, and jackets

Shirts should be tucked in.

Pants need to fit appropriately at the waist and should not "sag".

No hooded sweatshirts.

Long sleeves are not to be worn under the polo shirt.

Crocs may not be worn.

Belts are recommended with their pants and shorts.

Failure to comply with the Uniform Policy will result in lunch detention.

PE Uniforms:

• Navy track bottoms or green PE shorts
• Grey PE t-shirt
• Dance students wear black shorts or leggings and a black dance shirt.

Students who intend to use the bus for transportation to and/or from school will need to purchase a bus pass through Orange Unified School District.

Avoid the last-minute rush and get your bus pass now!

Bus Pass:

Tuesday-Friday
7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed daily for lunch
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Bus Pass Information

El Rancho offers a hot lunch daily, except for minimum days. Breakfast and lunch will be free of cost for all students this school year. OUSD requires a meal application to be completed by El Rancho families.

Online Meal Application

For student safety, students who have a late start or early release will need to be dropped off or picked up at the main campus. The gate at Santa Ana Canyon will close at the start of the 1st period and will not open until the end of 5th period.

Parking Lot Etiquette:

1. There are two lanes in the parking lot. The right lane is for drop-off and the left lane is for those who need to park in the lot.

2. When dropping off please pull all the way forward and have your student exit the car quickly.

3. At drop off, please do not drop students off in the middle of the parking lot. Either pull up to the curb or pull into a parking stall to drop your student off. The safest option is to drop students at the curb.

4. At pick-up, please do not park in the red zone. This makes it difficult for buses to park and pick up students.

5. If you would like to avoid the traffic, plan to pick your student up a little later, about 3:05 PM - 3:10 PM, it is so much easier.

6. Please drive SLOWLY!!!!

7. Please follow all traffic laws.

Santa Ana Canyon Drop-Off Area

1. Please pull all the way forward.

2. Do not double park.

3. Avoid blocking the intersection at Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon.

4. If you would like to avoid the traffic, plan to pick your student up a little later, about 3:05 PM - 3:10 PM, it is so much easier.

We DO NOT recommend picking up students in the Hibachi or Big Lots parking lots. Students should not be in either area after school unsupervised, even on early release Thursdays.

During the 2024-2025 school year, all visitors must come to the office through the main doors to sign in. Parents dropping off "forgotten items" or lunches will also drop off items at the main office cubbies, not the Attendance office.

The Attendance office should only be used for signing in late students and picking up students early from school.

Mrs. Cannon, our Attendance Clerk, appreciates your phone call if your child has to miss school. Please call the Attendance Hotline 714-628-5427 on the day of your student's absence.

Please check Google Classroom for work missed up to 3 days.

Students who have a planned absence that is more than 3 days should pick-up an absence form at the attendance office.

During Tutorial, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, please avoid picking students up early, between 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM.

The Attendance Office is for signing-in students who are late to school and signing-out students who are picked-up early from school.

Cell Phones are expected to be on silent mode or completely turned off and in students' backpacks from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., with the exception that is used as an in-class learning tool under the supervision of the teacher. Cell phones may not be carried in pockets.

Students who need to call their parents should come to the attendance office to use the available phone. Students who are not feeling well should come to the health office to call home and rest until a parent arrives to take their student home.

Parents, when an emergency arises and you need to reach your student, please call the office and we will get a message to your student or have them come to the office and call you.

The Cell Phone Policy also applies to headphones, earbuds, Airpods, and iWatches.

Using the Binder Reminder is a great way to stay organized and keep track of homework. Every student is expected to:

1. Have their Binder Reminder at school every day.

2. Have their name on the front page of their Binder Reminder.

3. Have their Binder Reminder out and ready on Tutorial days (Wed./Thurs.)

4. Keep all pages intact for the entire year.

5. Write their homework and upcoming tests and quizzes down for each class, daily.

Students without their Binder Reminder on Tutorial days will earn after-school detention.

Dec. 23-Jan. 10, 2025: Winter Break

Jan. 13: School Resumes

Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Birthday-No School

Jan. 21: 2025-2026 7th Grade Information Night in the Gym @ 5:30 pm

Jan. 22: 2025-2026 7th Grade Information Virtual Presentation @ 2:00 pm

Jan. 22: 2025-2026 7th Grade Information Night in the Gym @ 5:30 pm

Feb. 4: Canyon HS CTE Fair for 8th Graders

Feb. 14 & 17: President's Day Weekend-No School

Feb. 24: 2025-2026 8th Grade Elective Presentation during History Classes

Feb. 25: Career Day

March 7: Minimum Day 12:20 pm Dismissal

March 11: Canyon HS Registration Presentation during History Classes

March 11: End of 2nd Trimester

March 12: 3rd Trimester Begins

March 19 & 20: Canyon HS Registration Pick-Up during PE

March 25: Open House

March 31-April 4: Spring Break

Follow El Rancho on social media to find up to date information, activities, and the talents of our fantastic students and staff. Click on each icon to get to El Rancho's accounts.

El Rancho administration works as a management team with three assistant principals, called advisors, who work alongside our principal, Mrs. Walker, to help students be successful. Advisors work with students in the areas of attendance, academics, behavior, and scheduling. The student body is divided into groups by their last name and assigned to an advisor who is like the principal for that part of the alphabet. Students with Section 504 Plans will have Mrs. Beard as their advisor.

Advisors are always happy to help answer general questions regarding school programs. We encourage families to first address questions regarding the grade book, assignments, and classroom interaction to the individual teacher and advisors can be cc'd on communications at any time.

• A-G..........Mrs. Ozuna.......... kozuna@orangeusd.org
• H-P..........Mr. Kilgore........... gkilgore@orangeusd.org
• Q-Z..........Mrs. Beard........... kbeard@orangeusd.org

December 13

December 6

November 22

November 15