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

Dec. 16: Dance Performances @ 5 pm and 6:15 pm

Dec. 17: Guitar Concert @ 6 pm

Dec. 18: Orchestra Concert @ 6 pm

Entrance into the dance performance is one canned food item.

All performances are in the cafeteria. We hope to see you there!

ASB will be hosting a Winter spirit week during December 15-19 to get students ready for our big break! Below is an overview of the week:

Monday: Winter Bracelets handed out during 2nd period.

Tuesday: Snowballs will be hidden around campus for students to find and receive a prize during lunch.

Wednesday : Holiday spirit day. Students will be allowed to wear holiday jewelry, socks and Santa hats.

Thursday: Terrific Thursday where students will be able to participate in a fun holiday game during lunch. Students must have their spirit bracelet from Monday to participate.

Friday: Candy Canes will be handed out during 2nd period classes.

We look forward to celebrating this festive week!

This week, ASB hosted the annual Snowball Tournament. Teams competed all week at lunch in a dodgeball tournament. Finals were held at lunch on Thursday and the winners faced the staff on Friday.

Congratulations to the 8th grade team who beat the teachers on Friday and took back the Snowball Tournament title.

Thursday, author and El Rancho parent, Brooke Khan, spoke with students about writing and becoming an author. Thank you, Mrs. Khan!

2025-26 Yearbook Sales: In celebration of El Rancho’s 50th Anniversary, make sure you purchase our celebratory yearbook! Students should see Ms. Garabedian in the main office to purchase a copy. The cost is $45.00, and we accept cash, checks (payable to El Rancho), credit cards (over the phone), or Apple Pay.

For any questions, please email Ms. Garabedian ngarabedian@orangeusd.org, or 714-997-6238.

Thank you,

El Rancho Yearbook Department

Coyotes!

We welcome all students, parents, and staff to complete our school’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) survey, even if you have already completed the LCAP survey sent by OUSD.

Your feedback is essential in helping us identify priorities and make decisions that best support our students, staff, and community. The school-level LCAP allows us to focus specifically on the needs and goals of our site.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link below:

El Rancho LCAP Survey

Thank you for your time and valuable input—it truly helps shape the future of our school!

As a reminder...

1. Shirts are expected to be tucked in at all times.

2. Cell phone use is not allowed from the 1st bell to the last bell each day. Cell phones should be kept in students' backpacks, not their pockets. Students have access to the phones in the office if they need to contact their parents.

3. Gum is not allowed on campus.

4. Students should clean up after themselves during nutrition and lunch. Please make sure your trash is put into the trash cans and help our custodians keep El Rancho clean.

The "See it, Hear it, Take it" policy will apply for cell phones is in place. Keep your phone off and in your backpack!

Warnings will no longer be given.

We have reached the time of year when the mornings are cool, and the temperature warms up by the end of the day. Students tend to shed their jackets and sweatshirts at lunch and forget them as they head off to class. Help us, help you! Put your student's name on the inside of their jacket or sweatshirt. That way, when we pick it up at the end of lunch, we can identify who it belongs to and get it back to them. Otherwise, students will need to look through the lost and found rack by the attendance office.

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 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 2:50 pm to 3:50 pm. Students are expected to stay for the entire hour. Students arriving after 3:00 pm will not be allowed in.

Homework Club in the Library

Volleyball

November 10th: McPherson Magnet @ El Rancho (W for all 3 teams)

November 17th: El Rancho @ Portola Middle (Cancelled due to rain)

December 1st: El Rancho @ Santiago Charter (Girls won, boys lost)

December 8th: Yorba Middle @ El Rancho (W for all 3 teams)

December 15th: Cerro Villa Middle @ El Rancho

Flag Football

November 10th: El Rancho @ McPherson Magnet (W for all 3 teams)

November 17th: Portola Middle @ El Rancho (Cancelled due to rain)

December 1st: Santiago Charter @ El Rancho (Girls won, Boys' Team B won, Boys' Team A lost)

December 8th: El Rancho @ Yorba Middle (W for all 3 teams)

December 15th: El Rancho @ Cerro Villa Middle

All games begin at 3:00 PM

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.

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 and will be responsible for damages.

Parents, please note that all traffic laws apply when using the Santa Ana Canyon drop-off zone.

• Pull all the way forward; students do not need to be dropped off at the stairs.
• Do not park in the red zone.
• Drive all the way through the loading/unloading zone. Do not cut back into traffic.
• Double-parking is not allowed.
• Do not block Fairmont Blvd.

The Anaheim Police Department may ticket those who do not follow traffic laws.

We appreciate your cooperation!

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

Students are 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.

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 2025-2026 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.

Attendance in Secondary School is different than elementary school. Students now have seven teachers to manage, so missing an entire school day for a personal day or even a medical appointment can really put your student behind. We recommend signing your student out for an appointment, then dropping them off back at school.

If you are going to pick up your student during the school day for an appointment, please sign your student out at the Attendance Office (in the atrium across from the library). You may call in advance or send a note with your student in the morning, but you must sign out your student. After your student’s appointment, they may return to school. Please have them sign back in at the Attendance Office and we will give them a pass back to class - it is okay to come back mid-class. We always recommend getting a note from any medical provider to change the absence from personal to a medically excused absence. Your student can drop it off when they sign back in, or you can email the note to Mrs. Cannon scannon@orangeusd.org.

If your student is going to be absent (or late), please call the Attendance Hotline at (714) 628-5427 the morning of the absence and each subsequent day. If you visit the doctor, we would love a copy of the doctor note which will change the illness to a medically excused absence.

If you have a personal absence for more than three days, please come by the Attendance Office for a Student Absence Form prior to the absences. Once we have it signed, we’ll forward it to each of your student’s teachers. Keeping up with class/homework is made easier with your home set of books, and most of the assignments on Google Classroom.

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. 16: Dance Performances @ 5 pm and 6:15 pm

Dec. 17: Guitar Concert @ 6 pm

Dec. 18: Orchestra Concert @ 6 pm

Dec. 22-Jan 9, 2026: Winter Break

Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Birthday-No School

Jan. 20 and 21: 7th Grade Information Nights @ 5:30 pm

Jan. 21: 7th Grade Information Night @ 2:00 pm-virtual

Feb. 13 & 16: Washington & Lincoln's Birthdays-No School

Feb. 20: Medieval Times Fieldtrip

Feb. 24: Career Day

Mar. 3: Canyon High CTE Fair

Mar. 3: 2026-27 8th Grade Elective Presentations

Mar. 6: Minimum Day 12:20 pm dismissal

Mar. 10: End of 2nd Trimester

Mar. 11: 3rd Trimester Begins

Mar. 24: Open House

Mar. 24: Honor Band Concert

Mar. 30-Apr. 3: 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