About Rice Elementary School

Fostering a culture of sustainability, and empowering students to achieve their personal best

Robert J.C. Rice Elementary strives to ensure strong academic instruction while providing families with diverse choices through both our Classic and Chandler Traditional Academy (CTA) education models. Serving our vibrant neighborhood community, we provide a well-rounded experience that balances rigorous Arizona State standards with an array of exciting extracurricular opportunities. Guided by our PBIS core values—being respectful, inclusive, safe, and engaged—our dedicated staff creates a positive and supportive learning environment. We are proud to blend academic growth and character development with an innovative approach to environmental responsibility.

Interested in touring Rice Elementary? Our school tours are scheduled by appointment. Please give us a call to schedule a tour (480) 424-8500

1290 E. Ocotillo Rd.
Gilbert, AZ 85298

Phone: (480) 424-8500
ContactRice@cusd80.com

School Hours

8:30 am - School Begins
3:00 pm - School Dismissed

Early Release

11:30 am - Parent Teacher Conferences

Office Hours

7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Important Contacts

All school numbers begin with (480)424-XXXX

Name (with email)	Title	Ext.
Cassie Bohlig	Principal	8507
Kelsey Barnes	Dean of Students	8506
Sarah Evenhus	504 Coordinator	8509

Department	Ext.
Attendance Line	8503
Health Office	8502
Transportation - District Main Office	(480) 424-8600

Lunch Schedule

Grade Level	Cafeteria	Recess
Kinder	11:00-11:20	11:20-11:40
1st./Skorski	11:20-11:40	11:40-12:00
5th./Tanzer	11:40-12:00	12:00-12:20
3rd.	11:55-12:15	12:15-12:35
2nd.	12:10-12:30	12:30-12:50
4th.	12:25-12:45	12:45-1:05
6th.	12:40-1:00	1:00-1:20

Important Links

Drop Off and Pick Up Information

Drop-Off Information

School hours are 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM and students may be dropped off on campus starting at 8:05 AM. Please do not drop off your students prior to 8:05 AM as we do not have staff to supervise them.

Please Note:

The south parking lot in front of the school is the designated parent drop off and pick up area. The west parking lot is for staff parking, our buses, and families who are dropping off or picking up their children from Kids Express or Weinberg and Knox Gifted Academies.
The Town of Gilbert has not designated a crosswalk for our campus. We encourage you to be present to monitor students who are walking or riding their bikes home.
Our bike racks are on the north side of the garden. If your student is riding their bike to school, please use the sidewalk by Waterston South and cross over to the single gate where students enter the campus each morning.
Bikers and walkers must cross near the gate by the yellow painted lines to avoid the bus area.

Staff will be on duty to greet and guide the students.
Students will be directed to the playground or to the cafeteria if they wish to eat breakfast on campus. Let your classroom teacher know if your child(ren) will be eating breakfast at school. Please make sure your children are on campus in plenty of time if you choose to have them eat breakfast at school. The cafeteria closes breakfast service at 8:25 AM.
Kinder and 1^st grade car riders will be directed to the kinder playground from the front of the school.
2^nd – 6^th grade car riders and bus riders will access the playground from the sidewalk on the west side of school. 1^st grade students may prefer to walk with their older siblings around the building.
We ask that you remain in the car when using the drop-off lane. Staff will be present to help your students out of the car.
If you pull into the parking lot, please park your car and walk your student to the crosswalk and wait for the teacher on duty to cross everyone. Please do not use the parking lot as a drive-through lane.
Please avoid using 148th Street for student drop-off, as it increases congestion and causes difficulties for the neighbors.

Pick-Up information

Once buses are ready to load, bus riders will be dismissed. Staff will guide and direct students to their buses. Kindergarten and 1^st grade students will be escorted to the buses.
To avoid a situation where we have too many students in a small area, car riders and students being picked up at the crosswalk will be dismissed from their classrooms.
We use the Schoolhouse Driveline app to dismiss students. At Meet the Teacher Night, each family will be given a sign which will have a designated number and student name(s). Student pick-up signs help us call students from their classrooms and let students know whether they will be picked up at the crosswalk or car line. The signs are critical for going through the dismissal process quickly. The safety of our students is always our top priority.

Driveline sign for student dismissal, featuring a sample first name in the top left corner, "SMITH 1234" in large black text, and a car dashboard with the sign over the passenger visor

This sign must be available every time you pick up your student at the end of the day whether through the car line or at the crosswalk. Without these signs, we will not call students, even if you know their assigned number. This practice ensures safety and accuracy in directing students to their designated pick-up locations. If you are picking up multiple students, you will need a sign for each student/family. If you need additional signs, please contact the front office.

If you arrive in the car line without your sign, you will be asked to pull into the parking lot and park. At 3:10 PM all students will be dismissed from their classrooms. Please notify the teacher at crosswalk duty and they will call your student to meet you there.

Please attach the sign to the passenger sun visor and lower the visor as you enter the parking lot area. Another way to help keep the sign visible is to use a clip hanger and hang it from the rearview mirror as you pull through the line. If it is placed on your dashboard, it is not visible. Please keep the sign visible until your student is in the car. Thank you for making pick up run more efficiently.

If you are picking up your student(s) at the crosswalk, please have your sign available for the teacher on dispatch duty. We ask that you wait in the parent designated area by the kindergarten playground fence line. Please avoid blocking the main entrance to the school. Children must be monitored closely while waiting to pick up your students. Have them remain with you and do not allow them to run around the school entrance. Safety is of utmost importance, and we appreciate your help in keeping everyone safe.
Our staff on duty spend extended periods in the sun. Please remember that every second counts; following the procedures ensures everyone's safety and speeds up the dismissal process.
Please avoid using 148th Street for student pick up, as it increases congestion and causes difficulties for the neighbors.

Flow of Traffic: Please see attached “Rice Traffic Flow” map. The south traffic loop is designated for parent drop off and pick up. Please enter the campus from Ocotillo Road on the east end of the campus. It is vital that cars pull as far forward as possible to prevent stacking on Ocotillo Road. We need your help and cooperation in following the designated flow of traffic.

Rice Dismissal Traffic Flow: Information included is in the adjacent text

Please display your name sign and keep it visible until your student(s) are in your vehicle. Remember our staff are in the sun for a prolonged period of time during dismissal. By following these guidelines, you reduce the time they have to be in the heat. Every second matters.

The traffic loop will be very busy, so parents must remain in their vehicles at all times.

If at any time you need to park in the south lot and enter the building, we ask that you use only the designated crosswalk for crossing. We take every precaution to keep your children safe and appreciate your help and support.

There will be no access from 148th street or from the west parking lot. This area is for staff parking and buses only.

Site Council

Graphic feature human figures in a rainbow of colors, holding hands in a circle with "SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL" in black text in the center

2026-2027

September 14th

December 7th

March 1st

May 3rd

ALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD

3:25 PM - 3:55 PM

The Site-Based Council (SBC) meets once a quarter. Council members are made up of teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, and an outside community member.

Site-Based Councils were mandated by the Education Reform Act of 1993 as part of the Act’s decentralization of decision making. A primary interest of Site-Based Councils is to empower those closest to the learner ~ school administrators, teachers, parents, and community members.