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Section 1

A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM
Ritenour High School's designation as an A+ School makes it possible for students to qualify for two years of tuition and fees* for attendance at any public community college or some public career- technical schools in the state of Missouri. Some four-year institutions are also offering scholarships to students who qualify for the A+ financial incentive. More information is available from the financial aid offices of the institutions of higher learning and the RHS counseling department.

To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Enter into a Student Participation Agreement with his/her high school prior to graduation.
  • Graduate from an A+ designated school and attend an A+ designated school for any two of the four years prior to graduation.
  • Graduate from high school with a non-weighted, cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above.
  • Have at least a 95 percent cumulative attendance record for four years.
  • Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring of younger students or students of the same age group.
  • Students need to earn a proficient score on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) exam.
  • Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the use of unlawful drugs and/or alcohol.
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
  • Register for Selective Service, if applicable (Males only – required within 30 days after 18th birthday).

Students must sign up for the A+ Schools Program by Jan. 1 of their senior year.

*Availability of financial incentives is contingent upon the state funding of the A+ Schools Program each year. The Ritenour School District does not appropriate the state funds for the program.

ACADEMIC SCREENING
Academic, behavioral and language screenings takes place several times per year for students in elementary and middle school. All students in grades K-8 are screened for dyslexia following the guidelines outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Screening outcomes guide teams as they identify students who may need additional support. Selected outside agencies work collaboratively with the support teams to provide therapeutic counseling for individuals, families and small groups.

ADMISSION / ENROLLMENT
Families new to the district can register their children at the Ritenour Administrative Center during designated registration dates and times, eliminating the need to visit several schools and fill out the same paperwork over and over again. Parents residing in the district can save more time by completing the paperwork online, and then bringing the required papers and court documents such as guardianship, custody, restraining orders, divorce decrees or other such legal material, if applicable to your child, to the Ritenour Administrative Center to complete the registration process.

Regular Registration Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m.*
(*Registration is closed during Winter break and Spring break).

Registration Location:  Ritenour Administrative Center, 2420 Woodson Road, St. Louis, MO 63114

Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian within the Ritenour School District boundaries to attend any Ritenour school. If the family does not know their school attendance area, information is available on the district website ( www.ritenourschools.org) under “District Map and Attendance Areas” or by calling (314) 615-4238. 

Students must be 5 years old on or before July 31 to register.

Registration Residency Requirements
If you own or lease/rent property in your name, provide the following documentation below: A-C and valid photo ID. 

If you do not own or lease/rent property in your name, you must bring the owner/lease holder to registration and they will provide the same documentation below: A-C and both valid photo IDs. 

A.  Provide one of the following:
    •  Lease/Rental Agreement
        -  In the parent/legal guardian/caregiver name (or owner/leaseholder's name, if applicable)
        -  Lease signed by landlord and tenant(s)
        -  Lease Not Expired
    •  Mortgage Statement
        -  In the parent/legal guardian/caregiver name
        -  Dated within the last 30 days
    •  Property Deed
        -  In the parent/legal guardian/caregiver name
    •  Real Estate Tax Receipt
        -  In the parent/legal guardian/caregiver name
        -  Most recent year

B.  Provide Occupancy Permit

C.  Provide one of the following:
    •  Gas, electric, sewer or cable bill
        -  In the parent/legal guardian/caregiver name
        -  Dated within the last 30 days
        -  Both service and mailing address within the Ritenour School District
        -  Disconnection and final notices are not accepted
    •  Utility service connection letter
       If you recently moved, contact Ameren at (314) 342-1111 or Spire at (314) 621-6960 and have the service connection letter faxed to (314) 429-6751, attention: Registration. 
        
The following must be included in the letter: 
          -  Name of parent/legal guardian/caregiver
          -  Address
          -  Date service was connected, (not applied for)
          -  Account number

D. Provide all of the following:
    •  Valid Photo ID (from owner/leaseholder also, if applicable)
    •  Child's birth certificate
    •  Child's immunization record

Note: Additional documentation may be required at the discretion of the registration staff.
 
After registering, each child’s transcript and discipline record is requested from their prior school. 

Once a student is registered in the district, all information is kept in the student data system. Student information is automatically transferred to the school of attendance. However, for safety and communication purposes, parents or guardians are asked to provide their child’s school with all updated registration or emergency information as needed.

Children, kindergarten through 12th grade, are required to be current with all immunizations and physical exams, if needed, prior to the first day of school.

If a student leaves the Ritenour School District for more than 30 calendar days, he/she must re-establish residency by contacting the Ritenour Administrative Center at (314) 493-6016 or (314) 493-6070.

Please visit the Ritenour website at www.ritenourschools.org and click on the Admission & Registration link under the Students/Parents section for more information or call the Registration Information Line: (314) 493-6048. 

If you are registering your child for the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education, registration must take place at Ritenour Administrative Center, located at 2420 Woodson Road, St. Louis, MO, 63114. 

School for Early Childhood Education Admission / Enrollment

Ritenour offers free early childhood education to district families. The program was previously tuition-based. Half-day and full-day classes are offered at the Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education, located at 3580 Woodson Road.  An enrollment lottery will be held each year for families interested in the program. A waiting list will be created, if necessary, for students not selected in the lottery. 

The program is offered for children who are 3, 4 and 5 years old. To qualify for enrollment, children must be toilet trained and reside in the district. Children must be at least 3 years old by July 31 to enroll in the program. 

Ritenour's School for Early Childhood Education is designed to help children grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually through developmentally appropriate activities in preparation for kindergarten. The building has a combination of general education and special education classrooms.  

Ritenour is able to offer the program free because the state of Missouri will reimburse the district for student attendance.  Students must maintain at least 95% attendance to remain in the program. 

See list above for required Ritenour School District enrollment documents. 

Hours for the School for Early Childhood Education are listed below:  
    •    Full-Day Preschool—Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    •    Half-Day Preschool—Monday - Friday; morning or afternoon classes available. 
            - Morning classes are 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
            - Afternoon classes are 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. 

There is a charge for before- and after-school care. Before and after care are available Monday through Friday. The cost for district residents is $56 per week for both morning and aftercare or $41 per week for only before or only aftercare for district residents.  Before-care hours are 6 to 8 a.m.; after-care hours are 4-6 p.m.

Please call (314) 493-6240 for more information.

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 
After-school/extra-curricular activities are considered an important extension of the school day and a significant dimension of school life. These activities provide opportunities for students to socialize with friends, develop relationships with adults and explore areas of personal interest. Student participants grow socially and emotionally and enhance their education outside of the traditional classroom setting. The camaraderie and enjoyment experienced by students who participate in after-school programs contribute to the creation of a positive school environment and help to generate school spirit and pride. Students who participate in extra-curricular programs usually develop a more positive attitude toward school, have better attendance and experience more success in all aspects of their education.

At the middle and high school levels, students may participate in a wide selection of activities which include academic enrichment classes, tutoring, sports, student council, newspaper, yearbook and various clubs. These opportunities complement the academic curriculum in meeting the school related interests and needs of students not directly addressed by the school’s curriculum. The activities and athletic offerings supplement the instructional program by providing opportunities for mental, social and emotional growth; the development of appropriate attitudes and behaviors concerning citizenship; growth of self-esteem and confidence and other significant learning experiences. Ritenour High School maintains an “Activity and Athletic Opportunities” booklet which includes a complete listing of activities available.

Activities are scheduled before or after school. At the elementary and middle schools, activity buses are available to take students eligible for transportation from school to home. Students not eligible for the activity bus must make arrangements to be picked up at school at the end of the activity. Arrangements should be made prior to the day of the activity. Students receive a list of after-school activities and an activity bus route at the beginning of the school year. After-school and evening activities and classes are cancelled on snow days and early dismissal days. 

Interscholastic Athletics and Competitive Teams
The rules that govern participation in RHS athletics and competitive activities are set by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), the St. Louis Suburban Public High School Athletic and Activities Association, and Ritenour School District.  To be eligible, student-athletes must have passed 3.0 credits the previous semester while being enrolled in 3.0 credits in the current semester.  There are also 2.0 Minimum GPA (Academic Support) requirements and citizenship guidelines by which students must abide.  Those planning on playing in college, need to make sure they meet the core requirements of the NCAA.

To participate in sports and certain other activities at RHS, students must have a current online Consent Form, physical examination, and proof of insurance on file in the Athletic Office.  After all paperwork is up to date and on file students will receive an eligibility card to join their desired team for practice.  Note: 14 days of practice are needed prior to game participation. Sports-specific insurance can be purchased through K & K Insurance that would meet the state requirements for participation. Students must meet age, academic, attendance, and citizenship requirements.  The online digital “Consent Form” includes exact details.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL / SCHOOL HOURS
School for Early Childhood Education
Office Hours:  Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Student Arrival:  Full-day Preschool: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
                         Half-day Morning: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
                         Half-day Afternoon: 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
                         Before Care: 6 – 8 a.m.
                         After Care: 4 - 6 p.m.

Elementary
Office Hours:  Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Student Arrival:  8:15 a.m. (for breakfast at school)
                         8:30-8:40 a.m. (without breakfast at school)
                         School supervision is not available before 8:10 a.m. or after 3:35 p.m.*
School Hours:  8:40 a.m. – 3:35 p.m. (students arriving after 8:55 a.m. are tardy)

*Child care is available at the elementary schools through the local YMCA’s Kids Network for students who must arrive prior to 8:25 a.m. (or 8:10 a.m. for students who eat breakfast at school) or stay after 3:35 p.m. when there is no school supervision. (See CHILD CARE for information on enrolling students in the YMCA program.)

Middle School
Office Hours:    Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Student Arrival:  7:10 a.m. (for breakfast at school)
                         7:25 a.m. (without breakfast at school)
School Hours:  7:30 a.m. – 2:25 p.m. (students arriving after 7:30 a.m. are tardy)
                      School supervision is not provided before 7:25 a.m. or after 2:35 p.m. except for students involved in after-school activities or study under the supervision of a staff member.
After-School Activity Hours:  2:25 – 4:10 p.m.

High School
Office Hours:  Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Student Arrival:  7:45 a.m. – 7:55 a.m. (breakfast available 7:45-7:55 a.m.)
School Hours:  8:05 a.m. – 3 p.m. (students arriving after 8:05 a.m. are tardy)
                      School supervision is not provided before 7:45 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m. except for students involved in after-school activities or study under the supervision of a staff member.

Early Release From School
Middle and high school students must have written parent permission to leave the school grounds at any time during the school day. An elementary student is not permitted to leave before the end of the day unless signed out in the school office by a parent or person designated on the student’s emergency contact list. This person is required to show photo identification. Leaving school early is strongly discouraged except for unavoidable circumstances. Tardies and early releases are cumulative and accrue toward an absence.

Students can not be dismissed within 30 minutes of the end of the school day.  Students will not be dismissed after 2 p.m. at the middle school level, 2:45 p.m. at Ritenour High School and 3 p.m. and Ritenour elementary schools. 

ATTENDANCE / ABSENCES
Because regular and punctual attendance is essential to a student’s success in school, staff members work closely with parents/guardians to achieve good student attendance. Parents should notify the school if their child is going to be absent. Messages may be left any time of day or night, seven-days-a-week, by calling the attendance line for the student’s school.

School for Early Childhood Education..........(314) 493-6240
Buder Elementary School..........(314) 493-6301
Iveland Elementary School..........(314) 493-6331
Kratz Elementary School..........(314) 493-6361
Marion Elementary School..........(314) 493-6400
Marvin Elementary School..........(314) 493-6431
Wyland Elementary School..........(314) 493-6461
Hoech Middle School..........(314) 493-6201
Ritenour Middle School..........(314) 493-6251
Ritenour High School
     (A-D)..........(314) 493-6122
     (E-Les)..........(314) 493-6119
     (Let-Rod)..........(314) 493-6120
     (Roe-Z)..........(314) 493-6121

Regular and prompt attendance is one of the most important keys to a student’s academic success at school. Ritenour complies with state laws regarding excessive student absences. Excessive tardiness or absences may be considered educational neglect or truancy and could result in school disciplinary action, intervention by school social workers or school resource officers, a referral to Children’s Division, and/ or a referral to the Juvenile Court System.

Definitions Related to Absenteeism
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), for the purposes of school district accreditation, requires all districts to have 90 percent of students in attendance 90 percent of the school year, whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Referrals are made to Children’s Division when a student accumulates an excess of 10 unexcused absences.

Excused Absence—Below are the only times a student’s absence will be counted as excused:
• Illness/injury; death in the family; health/medical appointment; religious observance; legal situation; and/or participation in a valid educational opportunity and the parent provides documentation supporting the absence.

Unexcused Absence—When a parent does not provide documentation of the illness or injury, death in family, health/medical appointment, religious observance, legal situation and/or participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as a college visit, the absence will be counted as unexcused.

Truancy—Students who are absent from school:
     • without the knowledge and consent of their parents and/or administration
     • students who leave school during any session without the consent of the principal. 

Chronic Truancy (Family Court)—A student who is absent from school without approval for a full day or more, part of a day, or all or part of a class on more than 10 occasions during a school year.

Tardies and Early Dismissals—Students who are tardy to school or leave early disrupt classroom procedures and lose educational time. Tardies and early dismissals will be documented. When tardies and early dismissals equal the time of a full school day, the student will be counted as absent for one full school day.

A student should attend/return to school if the student has a doctor’s appointment during the school day.

BICYCLES / SKATEBOARDS / IN-LINE SKATES / SCOOTERS
Students in grades 4-12 may ride bicycles to school. Elementary students must have their parent’s/guardian’s written permission and their principal’s approval. Parents/guardians are encouraged to review safety practices with their child and to determine the safest route to and from school. Students are legally required to wear safety helmets when riding their bikes to school. Students should walk their bikes on school property, park their bikes in the bike rack and attach the bike to the rack with a safety lock. The school does not assume responsibility for damages, losses or theft of bikes and related equipment.

Skateboards, in-line skates, roller blades and scooters are not allowed on school property at any time. Any items brought to school must remain in the locker or principal’s office.

BUS TRANSPORTATION
The Ritenour School District has its own district-owned and operated student transportation system. Ritenour provides free bus transportation for students who live a minimum of one mile from school or for any elementary student that must cross a road designated by the Board of Education as a hazardous route. Bus route information is provided at the beginning of the year upon enrollment, after your child has been registered through the Administration Center. Students are permitted to ride only their assigned bus and must board and exit the bus at their assigned stop. Parents are not permitted to ride the school bus with their child or to enter a bus.

Students must be at their bus stop five minutes prior to their stop time.

Buses: Kindergarten & First Grade
A parent, guardian or babysitter must meet kindergartners and first-graders at their bus stop. Older siblings may also meet or walk with kindergartners and first-graders. If no one is available, bus drivers are instructed to return the child to school.

BUS CONDUCT
While riding the bus, students are expected to:
     • Follow the driver’s instructions
     • Stay in assigned seats except when entering or exiting the bus
     • Refrain from throwing objects in or out of the bus
     • Refrain from eating or drinking on the bus
     • Follow all other rules
     • If you must cross the street after exiting the bus, always do so in the front of the bus where the bus driver has control over the traffic around the bus.

The school has responsibility for and jurisdiction over students while they are on the bus. The privilege of riding the bus may be temporarily or permanently revoked due to unacceptable behavior on the bus.