2015 Back To School by Progress Times

SCHOOL TIME

August 2015 | A Special Supplement to

PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

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PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

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Sales tax holiday IS AUG. 7-9

his year’s Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 7 - 9. As in previous years, the law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Subject to the criteria explained below, all sales of qualifying items made during the holiday period qualify for the exemption, including items sold online, or by telephone or mail. Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday. The dates for the sales tax holiday are set by the Legislature. Clothing and Footwear Retailers are not required to collect state and local sales or use tax on most footwear and clothing that are sold for less than $100 during the holiday. Exemption certificates are not required. The exemption applies to each eligible item that sells for less than $100, regardless of how many items are sold on the same invoice to a customer. For example, if a customer purchases two shirts for $80 each, then both items qualify for the exemption, even though the customer's total purchase price ($160) exceeds $99.99. The exemption does not apply to the first $99.99 of an otherwise eligible item that sells for more than $99.99. For example, if a customer purchases a pair of pants that costs $110, then sales tax is due on the entire $110. The exemption also does not apply to sales of special clothing or footwear that the manufacturer primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which the manufacturer designed the article. For example, golf cleats and football pads are primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use and are not normally worn except for those purposes; they do not qualify for the exemption. Tennis shoes, jogging suits and swimsuits, however, are commonly worn for purposes other than athletic activity and thus qualify for the exemption. The sales tax holiday exemption does not extend to rental of clothing or footwear; nor does it apply to alteration (including embroidery) or cleaning services performed on clothes and shoes. Additionally, tax is due on sales of accessories, including jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches and similar items. Backpacks Backpacks priced under $100 sold for use by elementary and secondary students are exempt during the sales tax holiday. A backpack is a pack with straps one wears on the back. The exemption includes back-

more online Ü List of qualifying clothing, footwear and other items sold during the August sales tax holiday Ü All-inclusive list of qualifying school supplies (if priced less than $100) www.ptrgv.com/sales-tax-holiday Û

packs with wheels, provided they can also be worn on the back like a traditional backpack, and messenger bags. The exemption does not include items that are reasonably defined as luggage, briefcases, athletic/duffle/gym bags, computer bags, purses or framed backpacks. Ten or fewer backpacks can be purchased tax-free at one time without providing an exemption certificate to the seller. School Supplies Texas families also get a sales tax break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school. Purchases of School Supplies Using a Business Account: Persons buying qualifying school supplies during the holiday are not required to provide an exemption certificate – with one exception. If the purchaser is buying the items under a business account, the retailer must obtain an exemption certificate from the purchaser certifying that the items are purchased for use by an elementary or secondary school student. "Under a busi-

See SALES TAX HOLIDAY pg. 11

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MCISD Dress Code for Students

he District’s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, instill discipline, prevent disruption, avoid safety hazards, and teach respect for authority. Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat and that will not be a health or safety hazard to themselves or others. The District prohibits any clothing or grooming that in the principal’s judgment may reasonably be expected to cause disruption of or interference with normal school operations. The District prohibits: 1. Boys from wearing make-up. 2. Pictures, emblems, or writing on clothing and personal items that: a. Is lewd, offensive, vulgar, obscene, or violent. b. Advertises or depicts tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, drugs, or any other prohibited substance. c. Is distracting or draws attention to the student that, at the discretion of the principal or his/her designee, is inappropriate. 3. The wearing of see-through shirts or blouses, sleeveless undershirts, muscle shirts, vests, cutoff T-shirts, tube tops, tank tops and any blouse or shirt that does not cover the stomach or waist, even if covered by another piece of clothing such as a sweater or jacket. 4. The wearing of low-cut, shoulderless/strapless, spaghetti strap or string tie/ halter blouses, shirts or dresses and clothing where undergarments can be seen. 5. Brand name tags and imprints on clothing and personal items that may be depicted as negative and/or offensive (i.e. “Drunken Monkey”, “Drunknmunky”, “Homies”, etc.). Discretion by the principal or his/her designee will prevail. 6. Paraphernalia/accessories, activities, and/or gestures, which symbolize gang and/or group membership, including the following: a. Wearing beads and/or crosses that are all black, embroidered, or are identified with gang and/or group colors. b. Wearing tee shirts, sweat shirts, windbreakers, and jackets that depict the identity of a particular gang and/or group.

PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

c. Wearing shoes that identify with a particular gang and/or group, such as tennis shoes or sports shoes altered from their original color with paint or markers, shoe laces depicting a gang and/or group color, etc. d. Wearing gang- and/or group-related clothing combinations such as a shirt/ pant combination in a particular color or colors. e. Participating in any gang and/ or group fights, and any act of violence against a student or school personnel. f. Exhibiting any behavior or gestures that symbolize gang and/or group membership, or are associated with gangs and/or groups. g. Vandalizing school property with gang- and/or group-related signs or literature. All students are also prohibited from possessing folders, book covers, etc., which depict gang- and/or group-related signs or literature. The outlined code regarding specific modes, paraphernalia/accessories, activities, or gestures of the student body is subject to change at any time when a gang and/or group changes its identifying colors, paraphernalia/accessories, activities, or gestures. The aforementioned code also applies to any new gang and/or group, or any gang and/or group not mentioned herein. In addition: 1. The District has adopted a standardized dress code for students in grades PK-8. [See Policy FNCA(LOCAL)] 2. All clothing must be worn in a proper, customary manner. 3. Over-sized, ill-fitting pants and other similar items of clothing are not allowed. 4. Students are prohibited from wearing pants below the waistline that are designed to be worn at the waistline. 5. Students are prohibited from wearing pants that expose skin at the waistline unless a tucked-in shirt/blouse is worn that is long enough to cover skin at all times (i.e. when raising arms, bending over, sitting down, etc.). 6. Capri pants or crop pants that are not tight-fitting will be allowed. Bermuda

See MCISD DRESS CODE pg. 11

PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE MCISD DRESS CODE from pg. 05

shorts are not considered to be Capri pants or crop pants. Discretion by the principal or his/her designee will prevail. 7. Leggings, jeggings, and form-fitting (stretch, spandex, etc.) pants are not allowed in grades 4-12. 8. All shirts designed to be tucked in must be tucked in correctly. Discretion by the principal or his/her designee will prevail. 9. Students shall wear appropriate undergarments. No pajama-type clothing is allowed. Clothing where undergarments can be seen is prohibited. Torn or tattered clothing or clothing that exposes skin and/ or underwear is not allowed. 10. Shorts: a. Students in pre-kindergarten through third grade are allowed to wear shorts. b. Students in grades four and five shall be allowed to wear walking shorts that are no shorter than three inches above the knee. Wind shorts and boxer shorts are not allowed in grades four and five. c. Students in grades pre-kindergarten through five may wear cutoffs and bicycle shorts in physical education classes only. d. Secondary school students are not permitted to wear shorts. This includes Bermuda shorts. e. The discretion of the principal or his/her designee will prevail. 11. Dresses and skirts may be no shorter

than two inches above the top of the kneecap, nor may slits in clothing extend more than two inches above the knee. 12. Trench coats, dusters, hooded sweatshirts, and overcoats are not allowed, except in inclement weather. Hoods are not to be worn inside buildings. At the junior high level, pullover sweatshirts without zippers are not allowed. 13. Earrings or studs for boys are prohibited on any part of the body on school premises and during participation in any extracurricular activity. This includes string, plastic plugs, bandages, gauges, etc. which are used to keep the pierced hole open. 14. Girls are prohibited from wearing earrings or studs on any part of their bodies other than their ear lobes on school premises and during participation in any extracurricular activity. Plastic plugs and/or gauges are not permitted. 15. Exposed rosary beads are not allowed. 16. Hats, caps, hoods, beanies, sweatbands, hairnets, and bandanas are not allowed. Headbands must be worn appropriately to restrain hair, and not across the forehead. 17. Sunglasses are prohibited unless prescribed. 18. Appropriate footwear shall be worn at school. Shoes that present a safety concern are not allowed. Sneakers/Tennis shoes should be worn for PE participation. Flip-flops/thongs and/or soccer slides are not allowed. Steel toe footwear is not al-

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lowed. All footwear must have a closed heel or have a strap around the rear of the ankle in grades Pre-K through 8. Socks must be worn, when appropriate. 19. Hair must be clean, neatly combed and out of the eyes and face. Boys’ hair shall not extend beyond the top of the shirt collar; Mohawks, ducktails or ponytails will not be allowed. Hair that is styled in a manner that is extreme, outlandish, distracting or draws attention to the student is not allowed. 20. Hair coloring is limited to only natural hair colors. 21. Tattoos must be covered for all elementary and junior high school students. At the high school level, the covering of tattoos will be at the discretion of the principal or his/her designee. 22. Sideburns shall not extend beyond the bottom of the earlobe. Mustaches shall be neatly trimmed. Beards and goatees are not permitted. Boy’s eyebrow(s) shall not be shaved or altered. 23. The wearing of artificial nails and/or nails that are painted or styled in a manner that is distracting or draws attention to the student is prohibited at the elementary level. 24. Grooming, combing hair, and applying make-up or nail polish are not allowed in the classroom. 25. The District has adopted standardized attire for all students assigned to the DAEP at Roosevelt Alternative School. All students assigned to the DAEP will adhere to the standardized dress requirement. The

dress code will be discussed with the students and parents during the scheduled intake conference. 26. The discretion of the principal or his/her designee will prevail. The student and parent may determine the student’s personal dress and grooming standards, provided that they comply with the general guidelines set out above in the District’s dress code. If the principal determines that a student’s grooming violates the dress code, the student shall be given an opportunity to correct the problem at school. If not corrected, the student shall be assigned to in-school suspension for the remainder of the day. A student whose clothing violates the dress code shall be assigned to in-school suspension either for the remainder of the day or until a parent or designee brings an acceptable change of clothing to the school. Repeated offenses may result in more serious disciplinary action. Appropriate discipline procedures shall be followed in all cases. The principal, in cooperation with the sponsor, coach, or other person in charge of an extracurricular activity, recognition ceremony, or Board recognition event, may regulate the dress and grooming of students who participate in the activity. Students who violate those standards may be removed or excluded from the activity for a period determined by the principal or sponsor and may be subject to other disciplinary action. [See policy FNCA(LOCAL)]

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PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

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Sharyland ISD Dress Code

Boys’ Dress Code 1. Hair length must pass a three way test. The test involves the length of hair not extending below the eyebrows when lightly pulled down, below the earlobes and must not extend below the top of a buttoned down dress shirt collar. 2. Sideburns must be kept trimmed and should not extend below the earlobe. Sideburns should not exceed 1/2 inch in width. 3. Mustaches and beards are not permitted. 4. Extreme, outlandish, or distracting hairstyles or coloration is not permitted. Some examples of such styles are Mohawks, spikes, tails, razor lines, white walls with long hair in back, or completely shaven head. When in question, determination of hair-style violations is at the discretion of the campus administrators. It is obvious that hair cannot grow overnight; therefore, if the hair style is not acceptable at the secondary level, the student will be placed in ISS until the hair grows to an adequate length or until the hair style is made acceptable. 5. Sleeveless shirts are not permitted. 6. No earrings, nose studs, or body parts piercing are to be worn or displayed on school premises or at school-sponsored events. This includes string, plastic studs, etc. which are used to keep the pierced hole open.

7. Chains attached to the waistline are not permitted. 8. All shirts must be fully tucked in. 9. Shoes which are noisy or present a safety concern are not allowed. Steel-toed footwear and shoes with wheels are not allowed. 10. Hats, caps, hoods, sweatbands, headbands, or bandannas are not permitted. 11. Sunglasses are not permitted in buildings. 12. No student shall wear any garment or piece of clothing which advertises, promotes, or depicts the following: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, illegal drugs, obscenities or anything of a sexual nature, violence, heavy metal groups, cults, gangs, or anything which may be found objectionable in character or depicts a negative connotation. 13. No shorts of any type are allowed in grades 7-12. PK-6 may wear walking shorts and sport shorts, length must be no shorter than two inches above the knee. However, no boxers, or short-shorts are allowed. 14. Torn or tattered clothing or torn or tattered jeans that show skin or undergarments are not allowed. 15. Straps on overalls must be properly fastened. 16. No visible tattoos or make-up is al-

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lowed. 17. Pants must be worn at the waistline. No skin or undergarments should be visible. 18. Warm-up pants with fasteners down the legs are not permitted. 19. All clothing must be worn in a proper, customary manner. 20. Oversized, ill-fi tting pants and other similar articles of clothing are not allowed. 21. No military style clothing is allowed. 22. Trench coats, dusters, and overcoats are not allowed.

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SISD DRESS CODE from pg. 08

2. Skorts are not permitted in grades 7-12. 3. Leggings, jeggings and form-fi tting athletic wear are not allowed in grades 3-12 unless worn with a top, blouse, skirt, or dress that extends to the tips of their fi ngertips. 4. Sleeveless blouses or tee-shirts are permitted as long as entire shoulder is covered and undergarments are not visible. Halter tops, tank tops, or revealing or form-fi tting tops are not allowed. 5. No bare midriffs are allowed (whether student is in sitting or standing position or with raised arm) even if covered by another piece of clothing such as a sweater or a jacket. 6. Backless dresses, halter tops, tank tops, revealing or formfi tting tops, or dresses with spaghetti straps are not allowed. 7. Proper undergarments must be worn. No pajama type clothing is allowed. 8. Chains attached to the waistline are not permitted. 9. All shirt tails (even on shirts [such as fl annel shirts with or without lining] worn over other shirts) will be fully tucked in. Only blouses that complement skirt or pants may be worn untucked. Oversized, ill-fi tting, or revealing shirts/tops are not permitted. 10. Shoes which are noisy or present a safety concern are not permitted. Steeltoed footwear and shoes with wheels are

not allowed. 11. Hats, caps, hoods, sweat bands, or bandannas are not permitted. 12. Sunglasses are not permitted in buildings. 13. No students shall wear any garment or piece of clothing which advertises, promotes, or depicts the following: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, illegal drugs, obscenities or anything of a sexual nature, violence, heavy metal groups, cults, gangs, or anything which may be found objectionable in character. 14. No shorts of any type are allowed in grades 7-12. PK-6 may wear walking shorts or sport shorts, length must be no shorter than two inches above the knee. However, no boxers, or short-shorts are allowed. 15. Torn or tattered clothing or torn or tattered jeans that show skin or undergarments are not permitted. 16. Straps on overalls must be properly fastened. 17. No visible tattoos are allowed. 18. Pants must be worn at the waistline, so that no skin or undergarments are exposed. 19. Warm-up pants with fasteners down the sides are not permitted. 20. All clothing must be worn in a proper, customary manner. 21. Oversized, ill-fi tting pants and other similar articles of clothing are not permitted.

See SISD DRESS CODE pg. 11

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SALES TAX HOLIDAY from pg. 04 ness account" means the purchaser is using a business credit card or business check rather than a personal credit card or personal check; being billed under a business account maintained at the retailer; or is using a business membership at a retailer that is membership based. Layaways A sale of a qualifying item under a layaway plan qualifies for exemption if the customer places the qualifying merchandise on layaway during the holiday or makes the final payment during the holiday. Rainchecks Eligible items that customers purchase

SISD DRESS CODE from pg. 10 22. No military style of clothing is allowed. 23. Trench coats, dusters, and overcoats not allowed. 24. Outlandish or distracting jewelry or accessories are not allowed. 25. At the secondary level, make-up (including nail polish) shall not be outlandish, distracting, or gang or cult related. A t the elementary level, neither make-up (including outlandish nail polish) is allowed. 26. At the elementary level artifi cial nails (i.e. acrylic, sculptured, silk, linen and fi ber wraps, or gel nails) are not allowed.

PROGRESS TIMES 2015 BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

during the holiday with use of a rain check qualify for the exemption regardless of when the rain check was issued. However, issuance of a rain check by a seller during the holiday period will not qualify an eligible item for the exemption if the item is actually purchased after the holiday is over even if the rain check is presented at the time of purchase. Prohibited Advertising A word of caution: If you sell items that do not qualify for the exemption, you may not advertise or promise that you will pay your customers' sales tax. You are prohibited from advertising that you will not collect sales tax on items that do not qualify, but you may advertise that tax is included in the sales price of the taxable items that you sell.

27. No body piercing, except for ears (must not be distracting), is permitted. 28. Extreme, outlandish, or distracting styles or hair coloration is not permitted. Some examples of such styles are Mohawks, spikes, tails, razor lines, white walls with long hair in back. When in question, determination of hair-style violations is at the discretion of the campus administrators. 29. Pants or other garments of any type with words, letters or symbols written across the seat are not permitted. 30. Pants in grades 7-12 must extend to mid-calf or below. No shorts of any type are allowed in grades 7-12.

Our Lady Of Guadalupe Catholic School 611 N. Dunlap Mission, Texas 78572

(956) 585-6445 www.olgcatholicschool.com

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“Down Home” Parish Family Atmosphere. “Texas friendly” and “Tex-Mex friendly” spoken here! Tuition assistance possible. Montessori Curriculum (Pre-K 3- Kindergarten) Tradition Classroom (Grades 1-5) Compass Program/Middle School (Grades 6-8) Certified Teachers Teacher Aides Beautiful Kids, beautiful parents & grandparents Beautiful dogs, donkeys, camel and peacocks Religion Classes & Daily Prayers Church Day of Friday Music Classes, Chorus & Band P.E. Classes Family Friendly Automated Library Program A.R. Program (Accelerated Reading) Computers in Classrooms Volunteer opportunities After School Activities (Sports, Chess, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts) After School Care (3:10 P.M.- 5:30 P.M.)

Principal

Guadalupe “Lupe” Gonzalez O.L.G. School Graduate

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